96 WOOD NOTES WILD. 
breasts, very much as they push themselves in the water. 
I was also informed that the young are never fed upon 
the nest, but are taken to the water on the back of the 
mother, where they remain and are fed for a time, and 
then are launched upon the waves for life. At this age 
one can row up to them and take them in the hand, 
which they delight in giving hard nips with their long, 
limber bills; but when a month old they seem as wild 
and cunning as their parents. 
I had several lively frolics with a pair about that age. 
They were already expert divers and could swim many 
rods under water. As we neared them in the boat great 
excitement was manifested by both old and young; the 
little ones dived in a flash and the parents made off rap- 
idly, shouting for us to follow them. How they knew the 
direction the young ones took under water I cannot say ; 
but they were sure to take quite another course. After 
learning their trick we turned to go from them, when 
suddenly there was a furious dashing and splashing just 
behind us, and in a moment more one of them rushed by, 
very near us, both flying and swimming, with wings in 
the air and feet in the water. He swept by us with 
a noise like a steamboat, but no boat could equal his 
speed. At every stroke of his wings he smote the water 
as well as the air. It is the opinion of many that the loon 
uses the wings under water, which is probably the case. 
When the family discovered that we were only at play 
with them, they became quiet; but presently there went 
up a strange wild cry of three tones, the second one being 
long and loud, and all so much like the call of the human 
