448 THE DIVING BIRDS - PYGOPODES. 



bird upon her book, and in this position bheyare carried about with her wherever 

 she moves upon the water; they are thus kept in the rays of the sun. This she 

 i I i b bo i In for several days, and until I hey have grown bo a considerable size. 



The Loon verj rarely associates in docks, and bhen only apparently from ssity 



—as when a Limited surface of open water compels bhem bo crowd together. During 

 bhe winber, either singlj or in pairs, or in small parties, bhey are dispersed throughout 

 bhe United States. Knowing bhal man is its mortal enemy, this bird is constantly 



mi the watch, When it meets a passing 1 t ib widens bhe distance by immediately 



steering off, is aotive in diving, and when sitting, defies bhe keenest sportsman. It. 

 i.. .1 \ri\ hardy bird, and is said to live i" an incredible old age. Qiraud states that 

 in 1843 an individual was killed on the eastern end of Long Island, in which was 

 found bhe head of an Indian Ble, confined in bhe back of bhe neck, between the 

 bone and the skin. The wound was completely healed over, and had bhe appearance 

 nl having been made a long biine before ; and it was supposed by some i hat the wound 

 must have been received before bhe settlement of the country. 



The flesh of this bird i i bough, hard, and unpalatable; but it is not Infrequently 

 eaten by the fishermen. 



The I n subsists almost entirely on fish, is an excellent diver, and when alarmed, 



eludes pursuit by passing swiftly to a considerable distance under bhe wain-. Its 

 habil are striotlj aquabic. When, in its migrations, ib passes over the land, it Hies 

 at a great height and verj rapidly. In stormy weather ii lakes shelter in coves and 

 oreeks, and occasionally in mill ponds. 



Hearne, in his " Journey to bhe Norbhern Ocean," speaks of bhe Loon as being 

 common in Hudson's Kay. It> is very seldom found bhere near bhe sea-coast, but 

 more frequently in fresh-water lakes, and usually in pairs, ft makes its nest on the 

 edge of a small island or on bhe mar-ins of lakes or ponds, laying only two eggs; 

 and it is very oominon to find that a sheet of water is in exclusive possession of one 



pair and I lieir \ oung. 



This bird is universally known near Hudson's Hay as bhe Loon; and it is seme 

 t,iines round so Large a to weigh fifteen or sixteen pounds, The flesh, though black, 

 hard, and fishy, is generally eaten by bhe Indians. Ii can swim with great swiftness 

 in a considerable distance under water, and when it comes to bhe surface rarely 



exposes mure than I he ueek. It lakes win;; with difficulty, Hies heavily, tllOUgh 



swiftly, and frequently in a circle round those thai intrude on its haunts. Richard 



sun speaks id' its cry as being lend and melancholy - net. unlike the howl el' a Wolf, 



or, at other times, the distant scream id' a man in distress, lie caught several in 



nets, in which bhej had entangled themselves when in pursuit id' fish, 



Mr. B, IT. Goss, of Southern Wisoonsin, writes me thai this bird begins to arrive 



early ill the spring, as seen as the iee first, lueaks up arnund the shores id' 1 lie lakes 

 and si reams. During their Spring migral ions I hey are some! hues seen in large fiocks : 

 hut mosl of these pass lo llie nor! Ii \\ aid, onlj a lew remaining through the season lo 



breed. The Loon is formed for swimming and diving bhe conformabion of its legs 

 being such that lor it bo sband on the land is nearly impossible; bul in its home 

 on (he water it is a graceful and beautiful bird, swimming with the greatest ease, 

 and diving in the most surprising manner. Ii can swim lo a great distance under 



the water, sinking silently and withoul apparent efforl ; and its reappearance will he 

 looked lor in vain, even on one of our large lakes, where I he view is nnol isl i net ed and 



the water smooth. It builds its nest about the 20th of May. This is sometimes 

 constructed on a musk-rat's mound, hut usually on a small bog, close bo the edge, 



where the bird can slip directly into the water; it is composed of mud. moss, and 



