160 
THE LOOK. 
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 northern regions, on the little 
isles of fresh-water lakes : every pair keep a lake to them- 
selves. It sees well, flies very high, and, darting 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, 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 pre- 
pare in such a manner as to preserve the down upon them ; 
and, sewing a number of these together, they sell them to 
make pelisses, caps, &c. Garments made of these are very 
warm, never imbibing the least moisture, and are more last- 
ing than could be imagined. 
The natives of Greenland use the skins for clothing, and 
the Indians about Hudson’s Bay adorn their heads with 
circlets of their feathers. 
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. 
