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are seen to alight on the head waters of our great streams, on which, without 

 much exertion, being aided by the current, they float along, diving at intervals 

 in pursuit of the numerous fishes, as they proceed toward milder climes. 

 The few old birds which, at a later date, appear on the same water-courses, 

 frequently take to wing, and shorten their way by flying at a considerable 

 elevation directly across the great bends or peninsulas. These modes of 

 travelling are also adopted by those which advance along the Atlantic coasts, 

 where, indeed, the birds have the double advantage of meeting with food 

 and obtaining repose, on the rivers and on the sea. I think, however, that 

 this maritime course is followed only by such of the Loons as have bred in 

 the more immediate vicinity of the coast. But whether you are in the 

 interior, or on the coast, it is seldom that you see at a time more than one 

 Loon travelling at this season; whereas, in spring, they proceed in pairs, the 

 male taking the lead, as is easily ascertained by observing that the bird in 

 the rear is the smallest. 



Although its wings are rather small, its flight is strong and rapid, so that 

 it is enabled to traverse a large extent of country on wing. When travel- 

 ling, or even when only raised from its nest, it moves through the air with 

 all the swiftness of the other species of its tribe, generally passing directly 

 from one point to another, however distant it may be. Its long transits are 

 at times performed at so great an elevation, that its form can scarcely be 

 distinguished, and yet, even then, in calm weather, the noise of its wings 

 striking the air comes distinctly on your ear. I have seen them thus, on 

 their way towards Labrador, passing over the head waters of the Bay of 

 Fundy, to cross the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Whenever it chances to alight 

 on the water, in the course of its long journeys, it almost immediately dives, 

 as if to taste the water, and judge whether it contains food suited to its 

 appetite. On emerging, and after having somewhat raised the fore part of 

 its body, shaken its wings, and by a strong shiver re-arranged its plumage, it 

 emits its loud echoing call-note, to induce, perchance, some traveller of its 

 tribe to alight for awhile, that they may communicate to each other their 

 experience of the past, or their hopes of the future. There is an absurd 

 notion, entertained by persons unacquainted with the nature of this bird, 

 that its plaintive cries are a sure indication of violent storms. Sailors, in 

 particular, are ever apt to consider these call-notes as portentous. In the 

 course of a voyage from Charleston to the Florida Keys, in May 1832, I 

 several times saw and heard Loons travelling eastward; but, notwithstanding 

 all the dire forebodings of the crew, who believed that a hurricane was at 

 hand, our passage was exceedingly pleasant. Although I have heard the 

 notes of the Loon in rainy and blowy weather, yet I never heard them so 

 frequent or so loud, both by day and by night, as on the Ohio, during that 



