St Nicholas [serial] . artridge rifle gives nowarning of the shot as did the old-fashionedflintlock with its flash in the pan, nevertheless,the loon nearly every time seems to know when 460 NATURE AND SCIENCE FOR YOUNG FOLKS 461 the bullet is coming and dives just in time toescape. Immediately after the discharge of therifle, the loon is serenely up again, his mockinglaughter being but an added irritation. On thewhole, he seems rather to enjoy the performance. As a diver the loon excels, and naturally, for itis his sole means of livelihood. Not only is hemarvelously quick, but he can remain un
St Nicholas [serial] . artridge rifle gives nowarning of the shot as did the old-fashionedflintlock with its flash in the pan, nevertheless,the loon nearly every time seems to know when 460 NATURE AND SCIENCE FOR YOUNG FOLKS 461 the bullet is coming and dives just in time toescape. Immediately after the discharge of therifle, the loon is serenely up again, his mockinglaughter being but an added irritation. On thewhole, he seems rather to enjoy the performance. As a diver the loon excels, and naturally, for itis his sole means of livelihood. Not only is hemarvelously quick, but he can remain underwater for a seemingly endless time. In swimmingunder water he uses both wings and feet, andcan go for several hundred yards in this loon, like many other water-fowls, sleeps onthe water with his head tucked under his wing. Speaking of sleeping loons, some few summersago a friend of mine, while camped on Lake Ki- a hideous outcry and kept it up so persistentlythat before morning he had earned his HE ACTUALLY SUCCEEDED IN PADDLING UP ANDCAPTURING HIM. amika, was out for an early morning paddle. Itwas just after dawn and very still. Out on thelake he espied a sleeping loon, and by dint ofcareful paddling he actually succeeded in ap-proaching and capturing him. Proud of his cap-ture, he took the loon ashore and tethered him toa stake. The loon struggled at first, but after awhile seemed to become reconciled. All wentwell until nightfall. Then the loon set up such - 5^^PP ^B d&Sr m^C^v ^. M - >~ V VV ^ *?~* *S M HS ? .„ HE TETHERED THE LOON TO A STAKE. I tell this story with some fear that I may beaccused of nature faking, but if any one doubtsme I can readily prove it to be true. I have beentold that the loon is very curious and can beattracted by any unusual moving object, such asa rag waving on the end of a stick, especially ared rag. I have tried this scheme, but withoutsuccess, although I may not have kept it up fora sufficient length of time. Poss
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