NATURE'S REALM. 177 
any rate, the loon cannot be called a foolish or 
silly bird, and those who have ineffectually 
tried to shoot one will be willing to acknowl- 
edge this. 
To me the notes of the loon are ecstatic 
music, as heard on the lake when fishing, or on 
shore as one sits near the glorious camp fire, 
and they come quavering across the water. 
The sound of the common notes are cloo loo 
Joo foo; there are also notes much like hoawhee 
loo loo, which are not so commonly heard, and 
are more particularly uttered during nesting 
season. Aside from these efforts, they have a 
call note ‘uttered by both sexes, and best de- 
scribed by gui ho. This call can be so closely 
imitated by a friend of mine that the birds will 
answer him at once. These notes are all so 
weird and unearthly that timid persons often 
imagine that their origin is from some carniv- 
orous beast or by a horde ofsavages. In addi- 
tion to these cries or songs we often hear gut- 
tural chucklings and weird whinnyings difficult 
or impossible to describe, and of so varying a 
nature as to make it seem that a large number 
of birds of different species must be tuning 
themselves on the lake, and not alone one pair 
of loons. 
Anatomically the great northern diver pre- 
sents several decided peculiarities, among 
which the most prominent is the position of the 
feet, which are set at the extremity of the body, 
and are so arranged and formed as to admit of 
the greatest power in locomotion in the water. 
The body is formed to perfection for an aquatic 
existence, and everything conforms to the needs 
of the bird in its efforts to secure its food, which 
consists almost entirely of fish. The loon is 
not necessary to the fisherman, and is rather a 
source of annoyance through its ichthophagous 
propensities, but, in filling a proper position in 
the economy of Nature, it undoubtedly holds a 
right to fish in waters of our lakes equal at 
least to the rights of aggressive man. 
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