166 
GREAT NORTHERN" DIVER. 
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 inter- 
vals 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 f 
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 notwithstand- 
ing 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 
