The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-06-20

though, they would always assume an |
attitude of defense. The younger ones
would approach our boat with curiosity
depicted in every movement, and any
number of questions in their keen eyes
On several occasions we saw the par
ent bird take two or three of the chicks
on her back and gradually settle INTO
the water until she had disappeared be-
meath its surface. In some instances
the little ones remained in this position
and so sank from sight; in others,
when the back of the old bird settled
below the surface the chicks fioated on
as chips or sticks might do.
Slaughtered for Millinery.
II the northwest thousands of these
birds have been slaughtered for the
purpose of securing the wings for mil
linery purposes. A shameful part OF
this proceeding lay in the fact that the
birds were killed during the breedlnS
season, when the death of the old Dlrds
meant the starving Of great numbers OF
I the young.
In our own state a single instance
has come under my observation, when
let us hope, will not be duplicated
though in this case the young were
only occasionally involved. A party OF
government surveyors who were doing
work for Uncle Sam killed many OF
these birds in order to secure sum-
Gent number of the white breast areas
to make a long cloak for the wife OF
one of the party.
The Common Loon.
2-rhe second family Of divers, of
which we have representatives In Utah'
is that of the Looms (Gaviidae). These
birds differ from those of the preceding
family in having the three front toes
fully webbed, the toe nails not broad
land fat. and somewhat OF a tail.
The Utah species is the Great North
ern Diver, the Common Loon. rms
bird is not numerous, yet ii has fire.
ouentlv been taken in the state; it is
more common during migratlons. A
/ beautiful specimen, swim hghtly-ln
fact, they appear to float upon the sur
face of the water, as il composed OF the
highest. daintiest cork. This Is thought
tn he due to the small bulk of the body
lin comparison with its apparent size
when the feathers are on.
Five GuIls and Terms.
OF the GuHs, at least five species are
10 be found within our borders and fully
as many forms of Terms. The Gulls are
the California, the Ring-billed or Della
ware. the Franklin, the Bonaparte and
the Sabine. OF these, the Franklin Is
the most beautiful, with its black head,
lred bill and rose-colored body; While the
California is most numerous.
The California was, undoubtedly the
lGuU that endeared itself to the pio-
lneers. and won a place in the history of
la grateful people by destroying the
Threaded crickets that were sweeping
over the crops. These birds come In
great numbers in the spring, and join
the many that winter with US.
Habits of ouIls.
In the spring they may be seen fol-
lowing the farmer as he works in his
field with pillow and harrow, especially
when the pillow is at work. Then thou
sands of these birds may be seen, VI
and down the valley-and If not seen
at least heard. for they scold, and chat
ter. and whine, and laugh in sheer de-
/ light. it would seem, of an opportunity
3 TO gorge themselves. I have seen them
/ feed in the newly turned furrow til
5 they could barely move, when they
would Chamber upon the ridges, tuck
, the head under the wing, and sleep or
5 their gluttony. On other occasions wheT
81 they had satisfied their appetites they
7 would rise from the burrows and sal
I in a circle till only tiny white speck
! could be seen. As they climbed III
! spiral stairway they would OCCASIONAL,
: utter a harsh. derisive laughing note
! as if in challenge to the two-legged bu
= wfngless creature that stood watching
= them. As these birds are always hun
= cry, they are nearly always doing some
= thing that is interesting. I have seeI
: them follow the moving machine II
: August, awkwardly fioundering along II
+ an attempt TO adjust their movement
to the pace set by the mower, Will
- they reveled in the mUltitudes of grass
\ hoppers that rose in small clouds from
?. the falling grass.