GREAT NORTHERN DIVER 



85 



ways knew when a tempest was approaching by the cry of this 

 bird, which is very shrill, and may be heard at the distance of a 

 mile or more. 



This species seldom visits the shores of Britain, except in 

 very severe winters ; but it is met with in the north of Europe, 

 and spreads along the arctic coast as far as the mouth of the river 

 Ob, in the dominions of Russia. It is found about Spitzbergen, 

 Iceland, and Hudson^s Bay. Makes its nest, in the more north- 

 ern regions, on the little isles of fresh water lakes : every pair 

 keep a lake to themselves. It sees well, flies very high, and, dart- 

 ing obliquely, falls secure into its nest. Appears in Greenland in 

 April or the beginning of May ; and goes away in September or 

 October, on the first fall of snow.^ It is also found at Nootka 

 Sound t and Kamtschatka. 



The Barabinzians, a nation situated between the river Ob and 

 the Irtisch, in the Russian dominions, tan the breasts of this and 

 other water fowl, whose skins they prepare in such a manner as 

 to preserve the down upon them ; and, sewing a number of these 

 together they sell them to make pelises, caps, &c. Garments made 

 of these are very warm, never imbibing the least moisture ; and 

 are more lasting than could be imagined.i 



The natives of Greenland use the skins for clothing ; and the 

 Indians about Hudson's Bay adorn their heads with circlets of 

 their feather s.§ 



Lewis and Clark's party, at the mouth of the Columbia, saw 

 robes made of the skins of Loons;^^ and abundance of these birds 

 during the time that they wintered at Fort Clatsop on that river.tt 



The Laplanders, according to Regnard, cover their heads 

 with a cap made of the skin of a Loom (Loon), which word signi- 

 fies in their language lame^ because the bird cannot walk well. 



* Pennant. f Cook's L-^st Yoy. ii, p. 237, Am. ed. :j; Latham. § Arctic Zoology. 

 Gass's Journal. ff History of the Expedition, vol. ii^ p. 189. 



VOL. IX. Y 



