no 



Vo/ce^„ 



lunatics. Pushing over to investigate, I 

 noticed for the first time the entrance to a 

 Jfuktaeem tj^ great bay, and paddled up cautiously behind 

 ^^^^■•^^te ^ point, so as to surprise the loons at their 

 game. For they play games, just as crows 

 do. But when I looked in, there was only 

 '■s"^ one bird, Hukweem the Inquisitive. I knew 

 him instantly by his great size and beautiful 

 markings. He would give a single sharp 

 call, and listen intently, swinging his head 

 from side to side as the separate echoes came 

 ringing back from the hills. Then he would 

 try his cackling laugh, Ooo-ah-ha-ha-ha-hoo ! 

 ooo-ah-ha-ha-ha-hoo ! and as the echoes began 

 to clatter about his head he would get 

 excited, sitting up on his tail, flapping his 

 wings, cackling and shrieking with glee at 

 his own performance. Every wild syllable 

 was flung back like a shot from the sur- 

 rounding hills, till the air seemed full of 

 loons, all mingling their crazy cachinnations 

 with the din of the chief performer. The 

 uproar made one shiver. Then Hukweem 

 would cease suddenly, listening intently to 

 the warring echoes. Before the confusion 



