The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-16

TALL. Ths mother has not often more
tnan three young ones with her. Wher-
ever this il0cK Is, however, n may be de-
PENDED upon that ths sire Is somew her Q
rear. IL the female II killed before the
hstChlnR tbs male Will hang about the
place Of her death for days, and his cry
takes on an added note OF gsief and lone
illness It would take a man with strong
nerve or a very hard hsart to revisit often
tbs spot where ne hal done a murder Of
tnis sind, Rnu listen 20 the wailings OF
tbs berett ons.
A long time ago 90 ne one said that the
loon was foolish and the siur has stuck,
though II 10 utterly baseless The truth
is that the loon IL not only q powerful,
Industrious, expert and inge NOUS Usher
man but also has plenty Of ssnse and Is
exceedingly wary. IL has not yet under
stood ana Appreciated tbs long-range
deadliness of the modern rifle though X
IL learning fast thanks TO tbs hordes OF
city sportsmen who Invade its territory
In the summer time but any man mH2
starts out TO slay one with fhotgun VIII
have his work cut out Tor him. To begin
with the bird is generally near the centre
OF O sheet Of clear water ana can COM
maud view Of quarter mil In every
direction. II approached 1t Will lily pro-
yiding that the fishing is not especially
good. IL II has been procuring plenty
OF food and Is ioath TO leave II Will dive
when the boat has approached within YOU
yards and 10 10 likely to come 10 the eur
face on the far side OF the lake. IL has
keen vision AMI keen h earring and Is con.
stantly on tths alert. Its power OF seeing
under water Is also remarkable. After
making two dives IL decides hat the
strange animals 10 the boat are really
after it and then 1t rises IN flight whether
&c likes the fithing or not. Its CRY under
these circumstances has hooking de-
FAINT ring that adds to the vexation OF
the failure on hot August afternoon
when the surface OF tbs lake IL u burn
ished. mirror throwing up the sunheat In
waves.
The loon is shot by hanters who imag-
inc that it warns the game, by men who
want to mount IL as specimen and by
others who desire to test their skill as
marksmen. The 32.caliber rifle is the
regulation weapon employed for It's de-
struction. This small gun II correctly
held will kill at 800 yards which is as
close as the loon ordinarily will permit
approach 1hs explosive used 10 nitrate
which makes little or no noise and the
bird, If uninjured, Is apt to remain for
dozen shots before permitting itself to
covered by q tremendously thick coat OF
feathers and a shot landing against the
body Is not apt 70 Kill 1t. The target is
the black head, which at this distance
does not look Dluch larger than niokel.
In addition 60 its small sizs, this head Is
not often still. Even the most expert
riileman counts himself IN form " he
gets his game after ak shots. III the
| first shot comes close enough to warn
the target that Its life IL sought, 10 will
be apt TO adopt diving tactics. 1t learns
| In the course of a shot or two that the
danger comes from the little pun OF
vapor it sees at a distance, snd IL watch
es for this puff Intensely. The instant It
appears the bird goes under. The muzzle
velocity Of big ~ bullet driven by
nitrate is high yet IL happens time and
again that the projectiie reaches the
SPOT where the bird sat and either hurties
harmIessly over it, or else spatters upon
the water, a foot under which the loon is
calmly waiting,