The Loon 



311 



Ions care, and dressing each feather with oil from the gland above the 

 base of the tail, it finds time to play, for, although a veritable savage, 

 the Loon is possessed of social instincts and often indulges them. 



Frequently little parties of two to half a dozen or more may be seen 

 racing across the water. Half flying, half swimming, they dash over the 

 smooth water at great speed, forward and back, again and again. Some- 

 times one or more may chase another, which dashes onward and suddenly 

 plunges beneath the water to escape pursuit: perhaps it suddenly re- 

 appears close to another bird, which, catching the spirit of the play, acts 

 as if seized with panic, and rushes away, pursued by others of the party. 

 \Yhile at these sports Loons may be very noisy or nearly silent. 



A LOON'S HOME ON LAKE UMBAGOG. MAINE 

 From the Group in the American Museum of Natural History. New York 



The voice of the Loon is loud, and of volume sufficient to ring above 

 the din of storm and surf, or to echo far and wide to its family or 

 friends over the wide lake, or across spaces of the boundless sea. Its 

 calls are varied, fitting its different moods, and expressing no mean 

 range of emotions. Like some other birds, this one is decidedly inquisi- 

 tive, and may be decoyed near an ambush by alternately waving and con- 

 cealing a small cloth on a short rod. It is said that anything, as a small 

 mirror, that will reflect a flash of light will also attract it, and an imita- 

 tion of its voice will frequently have the same effect. 



The beautiful plumage of the Loon has been in demand for millinery 

 purposes ; and the Indians and Eskimos tan its skin for the manufacture 



