WAYS OF NATURE 



end of the pool, where it remained swimming about 

 aimlessly for some moments. Presently the loon 

 missed its companion, and with an apparent look 

 of concern dived under the ice and joined it at the 

 closed end of the pool. The grebe seemed to be 

 in distress for want of air. Then the loon settled 

 upon the bottom, and with lifted beak sprang up 

 with much force against the ice, piercing it with 

 its dagger-like bill, but not breaking it. Down to 

 the bottom it went again, and again hurled itself 

 up against the ice, this time shattering it and rising 

 to the surface, where the grebe was quick to follow. 

 Now it looked as if the loon had gone under the ice 

 to rescue its friend from a dangerous situation, for 

 had not the grebe soon found the air, it must have 

 perished, and persons who witnessed the incident 

 interpreted it in this way. It is in such cases that 

 we are so apt to read our human motives and emo- 

 tions into the acts of the lower animals. I do not 

 suppose the loon reaUzed the danger of its com- 

 panion, nor went under the ice to rescue it. It fol- 

 . lowed the grebe because it wanted to be with it, 

 or to share in any food that might be detaining it 

 there, and then, finding no air-hole, it proceeded to 

 make one, as it and its ancestors must often have 

 done before. All our northern divers must be more 

 or less acquainted with ice, and must know how to 

 break it. The grebe itself could doubtless have 

 broken the ice had it desired to. The birds and the 

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