LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN DIVING BIRDS. 79 
Turner writes in his notes: 
The Indian name, at Fort Chimo, for this species is Kashagat, derived from 
its note. This name is derived from the prolonged cry of the bird, which is the 
syllable ka repeated many times, slowly at first and finally blended, as it flies 
to or from a feeding place high in the air to command observation, and with 
accelerated flight to whirl and slowly descend with motionless pinions to the 
water, where a splash from the momentum of the bird conceals it as it sinks to 
slowly rise to reconnoiter the surroundings for danger. : 
It indulges also in a variety of weird, loud cries, similar to those 
of the common loon, which are the notes most frequently heard on 
migrations, especially when calling to each other at long distances 
on the water or when separated in a fog. Mr. William Brewster 
(1883) has described these notes very well as follows: 
On calm mornings the male sometimes indulges in a prolonged outburst of 
harsh, discordant cries, which are uttered with such volubility and variety of 
intonation that one might imagine a dozen birds to be engaged. This perform- 
ance reminded me of the clamor of a flock of geese. It was evidently the loon’s 
masterpiece, for during its production he would sail proudly about on the water 
with erect head and swelling plumage. It was so loud that it could be heard at 
a distance of a mile or more. 
Fall.—As soon as the young birds are able to fly and the molting 
season of the adults is practically over, sometime in September, they 
begin to leave their breeding grounds and by the first of October are 
all on the way south. The migration along the New England coast 
is mainly in October accompanying the main flight of the scoters. 
After leaving the fresh-water lakes of their summer homes they 
resort to the seacoast for migration and seem to prefer to spend the 
fall and winter on salt water. When traveling they fly at a great 
height and in a direct course along the shore, a mile or two out from 
the land; they usually fly singly, although often several are in sight 
at one time, widely scattered. There is, however, some feeling of 
sociability among them, most noticeable on foggy days, when they 
manage to keep in touch with each other by frequent interchange of 
call notes, as if helping each other to maintain the same general line 
of flight. They are even somewhat gregarious at times, gathering in 
small parties on the water to rest and calling to their passing com- 
panions; these gatherings are sometimes quite noisy and are well 
known to gunners as “loon caucuses.” They are shy and difficult to 
approach on the water at such times, but when migrating they pay 
but little attention to the gunner’s boat, swiftly passing over it in a 
direct course; they are often shot at, but seldom killed, for their 
densely feathered breasts are almost impervious to shot and they are 
very tenacious of life; if wounded, it is useless to pursue one, for it 
ig more than a match for its enemies when in the water. 
