56 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN DIVING BIRDS 



usual burst of speed, it uses both wings and feet with marvelous 

 effect, but ordinarily I believe that the wings are not used. It is 

 certainly capable of catching fish without making this extra effort. 

 Its diving ability in dodging at the flash of a gun is well known. I 

 once saw a remarkable exhibition of this power by a loon which 

 was surrounded by gunners in a small cove on the Taunton River. 

 There were six or eight men, armed with breechloading guns on both 

 sides of the cove and on a railroad bridge across it, all within short 

 range. I should not dare to say for how long a time the loon suc- 

 ceeded in dodging their well-directed shots, or how many cart- 

 ridges were wasted before the poor bird succumbed from sheer ex- 

 haustion; but it was an almost incredible record. 



The behavior of loons under certain circumstances shows peculiar 

 traits of character; playfulness and curiosity are both highly devel- 

 oped. Rev. M. B. Townsend contributes the following sketch of 

 their sunrise greeting: 



A beautiful sight was that of three loons facing the rising sun, standing almost 

 erect on the water, their great wings vigorously flapping, the sun shining full 

 upon their pure white breasts. It seemed almost like an act of religious devo- 

 tion in honor of old Phoebus. 



Dr. P. L. Hatch (1892) relates the following account of another 

 early morning performance : 



It has been my privilege to witness some scenes of their matutinal jollifica- 

 tions, which have always occurred at the earliest dawn, and have terminated 

 with the advent of the sun. The night is spent in proximity to each other 

 on the water, somewhat removed from the land. And in the earliest morning, 

 notes of the parent male soon call out a response from the other members of 

 the family, when they all draw near, and after cavorting around each other 

 after the manner of graceful skaters for a brief time, they fall into line, side by 

 side, and lifting their wings simultaneously, they start off in a footrace on the 

 water like a line of school children, running with incredible speed a full quarter 

 of a mile without lowering their wings or pausing an instant, wheel around 

 in a short circle (in which some of them get a little behind) and retrace their 

 course to the place of starting. This race, after but a moment's pause, is 

 repeated over and over again, with unabated zest, until by some undiscoverable 

 signal it ceases as suddenly as it began. Its termination is characterized by a 

 subsequent general congratulation manifested by the medley of loon notes. This 

 walking, or rather running, upon the face of the quiet lake waters is a marvel 

 of pedal performance, so swiftly do the thin, sharp, legs move in the race, the 

 wings being continuously held at about half extent. Soon after this is over, 

 the male parent takes to wing to seek his food in some distant part of the 

 same or some other lake, which is soon followed by the departure of the 

 female in another direction, while the young swim away in various directions 

 to seek their supplies nearer the place of nightly rendezvous. 



Curiosity has cost many a loon his life, for it is an easy matter to 

 tole one within gunshot range by remaining hidden, and waving some 

 suspicious object. The loon can not resist the impulse to investigate, 



