The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-05-06
GAS CRAZY AS A LOOM"

On I00t ECCentR1O BtE0s
One often hears the expression "As
crazy as a LOOM" and yet / 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 OBJ
servation 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 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, halt
flying, all the while screaming at the
top Of their voices. They keep this up
from ten to fifteen minutes and seem
to get great deal Of satisfaction out
Of it. In the calm of q summer even
ing, and aided bit by the echoes,
half dozen looms can make the fell
lows in 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 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
child being murdered or woman in
distress and you start to your feet.
Then you realize that 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 a long,
mournful cry echoing through the for
lest, and involuntarily exclaim 'wolves!'
There is a grunt and the sleepy voice
Of your guide comes from the depth
of his blankets: Non, m'sieu'; LOOM
I'm the morning 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
fashioned fintlock with its fash in
the pan,' 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 hooking laughter
being but an added irritation. On the
whole, he seems rather to enjoy the
performance.
"As diver the loon excels, and nat
urally, for it is his means of livelf-
hood. Not only is he marveIously quick
but he can remain under water for
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 friend Of
mine while camped on Lake Kiamika
was out for an early morning paddle.
Out on the lake he espied a sleeping
loon, 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 stake. The loon strug-
eled at first, but after while seemed
to become reconciled. All went we'll
until nightfall. Then the loon set up
such a hideous outcry and kept It up
SO persistently that before morning he
had earned his freedom"