4 4 GREAT NORTHERN DIVER OR LOON.
viduals, which are better able to withstand thé! cold and tempests of
the wintry season.
The migratory movements of this bird seem to be differently managed
in the spring and autumn. In the latter case, a great number of
young Loons are seen to alight on the head waters of our great streams,
on which, without; milch 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 datev -appear On the sitae water-courses, frequently take to wing,
and shorten their way by flyifig at a considerable elevation directly
across fite great bends or peninsulas. Theses 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 oil the sea. I think, however, that
this maritime course is followed only by Such of the Sottas 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 SSe 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 travelling, or even when only raised from its nest, it mofës
through the air with att-the swiftness of the other species of its tribe,
generally passing directly from one point' to anothei-ilftowever distant
it may be. Its'long transits are at times performed at so great an elevation,
thai its form can scarcely be distinguished, and yet, even then,
in calm weather, the noise of its wings striking the fïir Ëomes distinctly
on your ear. I have; seen them thus, on their way towards Labrador,
passing over the head waters of the Bay of-iFundy, to cfbss the' Gulf
of St Lawrence. Whenever it chances to aBghilRBtt fke 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 rearranged its plumage,
it emits its loud echoing call-note, to induce, perchance, some traveller
of its tribe to alight for awhile, that thcv may communicate to each
other their experience of the past, or their hopes of the future. There
G R E A T NORTHERN DIVER OR LOON. 45
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 callnotes
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 delightful
and peculiarly American autumnal season called the Indian Summer;
when, although not so inuch as a eloudwas seen for weeks, I have frequently
observed, th® passing birds checking their flight, or heard the
murmuring plash which they produced on alighting upon the placid
water, to. rest and refresh themselves.
Another strange notion, not deserving of credit, although you will
find it gravely announced.in? -books, is that, when the Loon is breeding,
it will dart down suddenly from the air, and alight' securely in its nest.
I have never witnessed such. a procedure, although I have closely
watched, from under cover, at least twenty pairs. On sueh occasions
I have seen the incubating bird pass over the dear spot several times
in succession, gradually rounding and descending so as at1 last to
alight obliquely on the water, which it always did at a considerable
distance from the nest, and did not approach; it until after glancing
around and listening attentively, as if to assure itself that it was not
watched, when it would.swim to the shore, and resume-Its office.
The.Loon breeds in various parts of the United States, from Maryland
to Maine. I have ascertained that it nestles in the former of these
States, on the Susquehannah river, as well as in the districts between
Kentucky and Canada, and on our great lakes. Dr R ICHARDSON states
that it is found breeding as far north as the 70th degree of latitude.
The situation and form of the nest differ according to circumstances.
Some of those which breed in the State of Maine, place it on the hillocks
of weeds and mud prepared by the musk-rat, on the edges of the
lakes, or at some distance from them among the rushes. Other nests,
found on the head-Waters of the Wabash River, were situated on the
mud, amid the rank weeds, more than ten yards from the water.
Authors have said that only one pair breed on a lake; but I have found