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 realized 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 
236 
