LOONS. Family GAVIIDAE 



Loons may bo likened to gigantic Grebes from wliich thoy differ external- 

 ly, cbiefly in the full webbed foot instead of the individually webbed toes of 

 the Grebe, and in the sharper, ni»re pointed and spear-like bill. These birds 

 are similar in their habits to the Grebes .except that their homes are gen- 

 erally more substantially built and are placed upon a solid foundation, gen- 

 erally upon an island in some inland lake. 



Both Loons and Grebes are literally "Water witches," being practically, 

 and in the case of Grebes, actually, born in the water and living in it ever 

 afterwards. Loons are strong fliers, but like the Greb'Bs, because of their 

 small wings they must get their first impetus from the water in order to 

 rise; in case there is any wind blowing they also make use of this by starting 

 their flight against it. They are very peculiar birds and the expression 

 "crazy as a loon" is not a fanciful one, being formed from their early morning 

 an.d evening antics when two or more of them will race over the top of the 

 water, up and down the lake, all the while uttering their demoniacal laugh- 

 ter. They vie with the Grebes in diving and disappear a:t the flash of a gun. 



Ki'iC, OF LOOX 

 D ,T r k ft' r e i^' n i .<5 h b r o w n 



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