doggett] nature study at highland camp 179 



We found quite a number of interesting and beautiful snakes 

 which some of the braver of our girls kept as pets for a time. Mr. 

 Williams brought to camp his very unusual collection of snakes 

 and, aside from the valuable information he gave us about his pets, 

 he did much to remove the aversion — tinged som.etimes with fear — 

 that is the accepted attitude of so many young people in regard 

 to these harmless and useful creatures, found in variety in almost 

 all localities. 



Perhaps the most unique experience of our summer came nearly 

 at its close and was shared by a small group of Counsellors. 



We were "off duty" at the time, and enjoying, in canoes, the 

 quiet beauty of a smaller and less frequented lake than our own 

 Sebago. In the party was one with unusual ability to imitate the 

 calls of birds. 



We had paddled clear across the lake to a cove that seemed to 

 promise shade and absolute solitude, when we saw a large loon 

 on the water, at some distance from us. The silence was broken 

 by a voice from our canoe — that high, weird call that is so uncan- 

 nily human when it com.es from the throat of a bird, but in this case, 

 was so bird-like that it deceived our friend in the water. There 

 came promptly, from the loon, an answering call; then, a louder 

 note from our canoe — and the dialogue or duet was in full swing. 

 There was no sound but this strange, wild call, sent back and forth 

 across the water. The loon, now joined by three others of his 

 tribe, came nearer and nearer — answering more quickly and sharply 

 as he approached. They came so near, at times, that some of our 

 party began to question what would happen to our canoes should 

 the excited birds close in upon us, in response to what might have 

 been — for aught we knew — a challenge, or a call to battle. 



Another canoe put out from the opposite shore, where a lone 

 fisherman had established his camp. He hurried over to see what 

 all this wild commotion might mean. He was in time to see two 

 specks appear in the sky, circling nearer and lower, while they sent 

 down to us a slightly different cry that was, apparently answered 

 to their satisfaction, from the canoe, again and again. The l:)irds 

 in* the water finally left us; but those above continued their circling 

 and their conversation until our conspirator in the canoe lost her 

 voice completely. One of the loons then sailed away over the tree- 

 tops, with a dignity of motion that seemed to indicate liis s(X)ni 

 for poor earth-bound creatures such as we. The other came 



