Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-02-06
ALO0N ON THE LAKE.
ONE OF NATURES QUEER
FREAKS IN BIRDS.
ITS Weird and Tragic Cries . frequent CauSo
o: Alarm for renAerfesi Difficulty
In Shooting Them-IlOw the
Bird Laughs.

OF her workshop she completed job
At once bold and original" said nn old
and observant native OF the Lake
keuka country. according TO writer
In the New York Sun. 1T is safe to
call the loon either q bird or an
animal. for it hns the feathers of one.
the fur OF the other and the heart OF
both. The fur is on the breast and
neck and under side OF the looms
body. IL is much OF the same quality
fur would be dainty wrap for the
dantiest lady in this or any other land.
The feathers OF loon cover its back
aud wings. They are soft and neecy.
but as hard TO pluck as pulling teeth.
They have a peculiarly that nothing
in nature except porcupines' quilts
have. Looms feathers have the same
peculiarly. and it is impossible 10
keep them inside OF a pillow or
cushion two hours ut a time.
The loon is particul rly gifted with
voice. At one time this curious
creature can brighten the lie out OF
you, almost, by snoring for all the
world like an enraged bear, and the
next minute will surprise you by 90
ing almost as softly as "a ring dove.
But night is the time when the loon
comes out strongest az a striking vocal
ist No one who hears for the first
time the song OF the loon at night,
amid the solitude OF a lakeside camp,
high among Isolated hills. will ever be
able 10 forget it, In the summer,
when the nights are moonlit, the loon
seems best to love TO show his accom-
plishmenls in a vocal way. The great
est of these is its power OF vcntrilo-
qLism. If you have lived much in the
vicinity OF bacliwoods lakes. you have
undoubtedly often heard woodsmeu
tell OF the ventriloquial gifts Of the
loon, but IL you never had auricular
proof of it you, OF course. doubted the
existence OF such power. You won't
doubt it after you hear it will
never forget the time | was convinced
of it. ] had seen plenty Of looms here
on Lake KeuLSa. but | had never been
where they spent their summers. One
summer | was camping in tho North
Woods with II native guide. Our tent
was only few feet from the shore of
one Of the numerous small lakes in
that region. lay in the tent one
night. watching the spectral play OF
the moOnbeams on the water. in and
out among the shadows, gliding the
noiseless ripples till the surface SEEM
ed FURNISHED sheet OF hammered
brass. The silence was oppressive.
Suddenly there arose from the lake,
and apparently from its farthest shore.
prolonged. half-s .tished wall. 1t
gradually increased in volume until 1t
was almost shriek. which died away
in a wall similar 10 the ore with
which The st rtling cry had begun.
The VITA was still IN my ears when a
blood yell, yell expressi We
OF supreme terror. smote the silence.
1t came from somewhere on the shore
near the tent and 10 tho right OF it,.
This irightful yell ended in wild
burst OF demonical sounl. II was still
echoing through tae forest when. from
tie left shore OF the | Ike. and far
away, n moan, IS OF utter hopeless.
ness and despair, broke on the soemn
stiffness, rising an / failing away into
silence with q. dence so sad that a
sense OF most burdening melancholy
succeeded to the influence OF the
forests midnight quiet As soon as
could shake of the depression ii
weigpsi ma with | arose hurriedly
and seized my gun. ! awoIe my com
| p Mon and told hin. of the fearful
sounds | hid heard.
My companion pointed to the lake.
There. gliding slowly on the surface,
its long neck and bill outlined dis
tinctly as 1t 1oated IN the moonlight
WAS the loon. 1T had come out from
the shadows near o shore, not three
rods away. | stepped forward quickly
with my gun. Instantly the hong
meek sappeared and rim Of shin.
mering ripples on the surface OF the
lake alone marked the spot where the
strunge creature had been.
"'N hen he comes up ug'n he'll
morn likely be mile away" said the
guide. You won't see him ag'in to-
night, but the chances is that you Il
hear him.
Perhaps five minutes passed. and
then two loud. wild, st ccato notes,
sound ing but few rods away. came
from the lake. They wero quickly
followed by series of exult1nt
chuckles. which seemed near when
they bcgBn. but grew fainter wAh
each succeeding chuckle until thu last
one was heard but family in the
distance.
''But the greatest accomplishment q
loon has Ia its power Of lodging bull.
let Al the flash OF gun the creature
will disappear beneath the water sc