The Holbrook news., 1910-05-27
GAS CRAZY AS A LOOM"

old Phrase Seemingly Not q Libel on That Eccentric Bird. One often hears the expression "As
 crazy as loon." and yet I wonder says a friter in St. Nicholas, ''how many realize how peculiarly fitting it sometimes is. Of all the birds and animals that have come under my ob servation I know of none that in any degree approaches the loon for sheer craZincSS or weirdneSs.
 Evening seems to be the looms ia vorite time for their peculiar behavior They collect in the middle of a lake. and when they have summoned all of their kind within hearing the ball commences. They raise their bodies half out of water by furiously flap ping their wings, at the same time making most terrific splashing.
 "They then propel themselves back ward and forward, half swimming, half flying, all the while screaming at the top of their voices. They keep this up from ten to fifteen minutes and seem to get a great deal of satisfaction out of it. In the calm of a summer even ing, and aided bit by the echoes, a half dozen looms can make the fel- lows in a college cheering section hang their heads for shame.
 ''The loon is not only crazy acting. but at times is very aggravating. Per haps, for instance. after a hard day you are sitting by the camp fire, quiet ly smoking and at peace with the whole world; suddenly there breaks upon your ears the most blood-curdling scream. followed by heartrending cries Your first thought is that there is a child being murdered or a woman in distress and zEou start to your feet Then you realize that it is only a loon
 'Or. perhaps. having turned in, you are sleeping the sleep that comes only in the pine-scented north. Again you start and wake as you hear a long mournful cry echoing through the for est, and involuntarily eXclaim 'wolvesi There is grunt and the sleepy voice of your guide comes from the depth of his blankets: Non, m'sieu'; loon
 Tn the morning a hunter rises bent on vengeance for his broken repose and resolves to destroy the fiend as he sits mirrored in the lake. Although the modern cartridge and rifle gives no warning of the shot, as did the old fashio f1intlock with it's flash in the pam nevertheless, the loon nearly every time seems to know just when the bullet is coming and dives just in time to escape. Immediately after the discharge of the rifle the loon is SC renely up again. its mocking laughter being but an added irritation. On the whole, he seems rather to enjoy the performance.
 ''As a diver the Icon excels, and nat urally, for it is his means of liveli hood. Not only is he marvelously quick but he can remain under water for al seemingly endless time. In swimming under water he uses both wings and feet and can go for several hundred yards in this fashion. The loon, like many other water fowls, sleeps on the water, with his head tucked under his wing.
 Several summers ago a friend oil mine while camped on Lake Kiamika was out for an early morning paddle Out on the lake he espied a sleepina Icon, and by dint of careful padding he actually succeeded in approaching and capturing him. Proud of his cap ture, he took the loon ashore and teth- cred him to a stake. The loon strug gled at first. but after a while seemed to become reeonciled. All went well until nightfall. Then the loon set ul such a hideous outcry and kept it ur 50 consistently that before morning he had earned his freedom"