—23- 



the shape is to accomodate the long- body of 

 the big- bird. The eg-gs are placed at about 

 two-thirds of the distance from the front of 

 the nest: or to be more explicit, the eg-g-s are 

 placed well back from the center to receive 

 the warmth of the motlier's abdomen. The 

 egg-s, two in number, lie side by side in this 

 troug-h-like depression, and from their situa- 

 tion one can always tell which way the old 

 ■bird sets on the nest. The bird invariably 

 sets with her head to the sea; in other words 

 she always faces deeper water. At the 

 slig-htest evidence of dang-er the old bird 

 pitches from her nest and does not reappear 

 until she swims from twenty to thirty yards 

 beneath the surface. 



Perhaps no bird possesses g-reater ability 

 to avoid the dangers from rifle and shot g-un, 

 than the subject of this sketch, and it is to be 

 doubted it as a diver on fresh water, thoug-h 

 there may be some sea birds which are more 

 g-ifted, but I doubt it. Every hunter north of 

 the 35th. parallel has had some experience in 

 shooting- at the loon, and all can testify to his 

 crafty ways and numerous, I mig-ht almost 

 say, invariable escapes. There are two ways 

 that the Loon may be secured and they are 

 both of rare occurrence. One manner is to 



