RED-THROATED LOON 79 



Turner writes in his notes: 



The Indian name, at Fort Chimo, for this species is Kashagat, derived from 

 its note. This name is derived from the prolonged cry of the bird, which is the 

 syllable ka repeated many times, slowly at first and finally blended, as it flies 

 to or from a feeding place high in the air to command observation, and with 

 accelerated flight to whirl and slowly descend with motionless pinions to the 

 water, where a splash from the momentum of the bird conceals it as it sinks to 

 slowly rise to reconnoiter the surroundings for danger. 



It indulges also in a variety of weird, loud cries, similar to those 

 of the common loon, which are the notes most frequently heard on 

 migrations, especially when calling to each other at long distances 

 on the water or when separated in a fog. Mr. William Brewster 

 (1883) has described these notes very well as follows: 



On calm mornings the male sometimes indulges in a prolonged outburst of 

 harsh, discordant cries, which are uttered with such volubility and variety of 

 intonation that one might imagine a dozen birds to be engaged. This perform- 

 ance reminded me of the clamor of a flock of geese. It was evidently the loon's 

 masterpiece, for during its production he would sail proudly about on the water 

 with erect head and swelling plumage. It was so loud that it could be heard at 

 a distance of a mile or more. 



Fall. As soon as the young birds are able to fly and the molting 

 season of the adults is practically over, sometime in September, they 

 begin to leave their breeding grounds and by the first of October are 

 all on the way south. The migration along the New England coast 

 is mainly in October accompanying the main flight of the scoters. 

 After leaving the fresh-water lakes of their summer homes they 

 resort to the seacoast for migration and seem to prefer to spend the 

 fall and winter on salt water. When traveling they fly at a great 

 height and in a direct course along the shore, a mile or two out from 

 the land; they usually fly singly, although often several are in sight 

 at one time, widely scattered. There is, however, some feeling of 

 sociability among them, most noticeable on foggy days, when they 

 manage to keep in touch with each other by frequent interchange of 

 call notes, as if helping each other to maintain the same general line 

 of flight. They are even somewhat gregarious at times, gathering in 

 small parties on the water to rest and calling to their passing com- 

 panions; these gatherings are sometimes quite noisy and are well 

 known to gunners as "loon caucuses." They are shy and difficult to 

 approach on the water at such times, but when migrating they pay 

 but little attention to the gunner's boat, swiftly passing over it in a 

 direct course; they are often shot at, but seldom killed, for their 

 densely feathered breasts are almost impervious to shot and they are 

 very tenacious of life; if wounded, it is useless to pursue one, for it 

 is more than a match for its enemies when in the water. 



