Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1910-04-09
aAs CRAY AS A LOOM
Old Phrase Seemingly Not Libs, On
That Eccentric Bird.

That EeoeHtric Bird.
Zone often hears the expression
'As crazy as a loon, and yet won
der" says a writer in st. Nicholas,
chow many realize how peculiarly
fitting it sometimes is. OF all the
birds and animals that have come
under my observation | know of
none that in any degree approaches
the loon for sheer craziness or
weirdness.
Evening seems to be the looms
favorite time for their peculiar be-
havior. They collect in the middle
of lake, and when they have sum-
moned all of their kind within hear
ing the ball commences. They raise
their bodies half out of water by
furiously tapping their wings, at
the same time making most ter
rifle splashlng.
"They then propel themselves
backward and forward, half swim
ming, half flying, all the while
screaming at the top of their voices
They keep this up from ten to fif-
teen minutes and seem to get a
great deal of satisfaction out of it.
In the calm of a summer evening
and aided bit by the echoes a half
dozen looms can make the fellows in
a college cheering section hang their
heads for shame.
"The loon is not only crazy act
ing, but at times is very aggravat-
ing. Perhaps-for instance, after a
hard day-you are sitting by the
quietly smoking and at
peace with the whole world. Sud
denly there breaks upon your ears
the most bloodcurdling scream, fo!-
lowed by heartrending cries. Your
first thought is that there is a child
being murdered or a woman in dis
tress, and you start to your feet.
Then you realize it is only 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 long, mournful cry echo
ing through the forest and involun-
Iarily exclaim, 'Wolvesp There is a
grunt, and the sleepy voice of your
guide comes from the depth of his
blankets, Non, m'sieu'; LOOM
"ln the morning a hunter arises
,ent on vengeance for his broken
epose and resolves to destroy the
lend as he sits mirrored in the lake.
the modern cartridge rifle
ives no warning of the shot, as did
he old fashioned fintlock with its
lash in the pan, nevertheless the
BON nearly every time seems to
now when the bullet is coming and
lives just in time to escape. Imme-
lately after the discharge of the ri
.e the loon is serenely up again, his
hooking laughter being but an add
d irritation. On the whole he
GEMS rather to enjoy the perform
nee.
"As a diver the loon excels, and !
aturally, for it is his sole means of
ivelihood. Not only is he marvel
usly quick, but he can remain un-
er water for seemingly endless
lme. In swimming under water he
ses both wings and feet and can 60
or several hundred yards in this
ashton. The loon, like many other
'ater fowls, sleeps on the water
18th his head tucked under his
ing.
Several summers ago friend of
line while camped on Lake Kia-
lika was out for an early morning
addle. 1t was just after dawn and
cry still. Out on the lake he espied
sleeping loon, and by dint of care
III padding he actually succeeded
i approaching and capturing him.
'roud of his capture, he took the
BON ashore and tethered him to a
take. The loon struggled at first,
ut after awhile seemed to become
econciled. All went we'll until
ightfall. Then the loon set up
uch a hideous outcry and kept it
p so persistently that before morn /
ng he had earned his freedom"