The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-03-21
A LOOMS DEVOTION.
Efforts of the Parent Bird to Save
its Young.
A Wonderful Exhibition OF Cour-
age and Sagacity. -.

son of Roxbury, Mass, we witnessed
a wonderful exhibition of devotion,
courage and sagacity of male loon
which we chanced to find with his
mate and young in deep bay indent-
ing the principal island. When about
NIFTY rods from the mouth of the bay,
We were startled by his frequent and
loud alarm cry, and drawing nearer,
we saw Mt the head of the bay the fam
lily, the male being on the side toward
the canoe. The mother, with her
young one on her back, holding hard
by his bill TO her short tail feathers,
uttered low, plnintive cries, and occa-
sionally would dive, remaining under
considerable time.
Returning to the surface, We no-
tced the little fellow, generally four
or five feet behind his mother, but he
would quickly join her and grasping
her tail would give little spring,
while the mother would aid his efforts
by flirt of her tail, and in less than n
second he was on her back again.
For about five minutes we watched
the birds beating back and forth and
showing greatanxiety, doubtless fearing
that we would block their passage into
the lake, the outlet being very mar
row, when father loon suddenly dove,
and passing under the canoe, emerged
somc fifteen rods beyond. ia in the
lake, calling our attention from his
family by loud scream. Approach
ing until he was not more than forty
feet from us, he employed several
artificcs to induce us TO pursue him,
and thus relieve his loved ones.
Failing in this, he resorted 10 intim-
idation, and rising until he seemed to
stand on the water, he ruilled his
feathers until he seemed fully twice
his natural size, furiously tapping his
wings and screaming violently. He
"PP''"Nuc' ~ H'ur tllt cHuOe NJ one
time that it seemed as if he was about
to attack us. This effort proving fu-
tile, he swan away some ten rods,
while we remained quiet and awaited
with interest his next move, which
was very singular, and perhaps in
tended to convey the impression of a
mortally ly-wounded bird.
First diving into the water, he arc se
some five feet distant, then leaping
into the air about four feet, and again
diving when he reached the water, he
descrlbed series of cycloidal curves,
having base of about five feet, and
uttering loud scream each time he
left the water.
Turning, he repeated the same man.
@uvres in an opposite direction, COM
ing very near the boat. At last he
turned on his side and uttered cries
which grew fainter and fainter until
all motion ceased, and he lay still as
II dead. My companion said II held
the paddlos), 81 am afraid the brave
old fellow has really killed himself by
his tremendous exertions; paddle over
and see" We approached noiselessly
until quite near, when, thinking he had
really deceived us, he began to slowly
move away from us huttering with one
wing as though the other was broken,
and Stimulating the faint and mournful
cry of dying bird, all the while keep
ing just out of reach, evidently hop.
ing to induce us to follow him out into
the lake.
When we ceased to follow he re-
tnrned in the same manner until our
compassion got the better of our curl.
osity, and we withdrew so as to leave
the mouth of the bay unguarded, but
stopping near enough to see the out.
come of the matter.
AS soon as he saw the coast clear,
our gallant bird so recently in mortal
extremity, holding his great green
head high in the air, quickly rejoined
his mate carrying her precious charge.
1t was most affecting to see the mutual
caresses by rubbing their necks and
heads together, and the little one did
not fail to receive goodly share. As
for the "loon talk" in which they in
dulged, the boatmen would have been
gratified to know that the birds spoke
as well OF them as they thought of the
birds Il Leverett NJ. Chase in Our
Dumb Animals.
Crazed by a Snake.
An aged lady named Mrs. Summer