Donegal, 585 



A. Fuligula, Tufted duck, a.p, ra P. JBassdnuSy Gannet, a.v, ra 



iliergus serrator. Red-breasted mer- foljmbusglacialis,Northern diver/ 

 ganser, a.p, c a.p, ra 



* 



Crested corvorant, re, c J septentrionalis. Red-throated"! 



;ulus. Shag, re, c 1 diver, a.p, v.r f 



cristatus. Crested shag, re, raj stellatus. Speckled diver, 



Pelecanus Carbo, Corvorant, re, c 1 I'mmer^ Imber, a.p, c 



J septentrionalis, Red-1 



Oraculus, Shag, re, c 1 diver, aj3, v.r f V 



,a.p,cj 



* From Coljmbus glacialis and/0??mer being very common in this country, 

 where they arrive the first week in October, I have had good opportunities 

 of observing them ; and in doing so have found the telescope a valuable 

 assistant, as it has enabled me to watch them much more closely than I 

 could otherwise have done, from their quick sight and consequent shyness; 

 indeed, it will be found at all times a useful accompaniment by the orni- 

 thologist. [See other mentions of its application. Vol. IV. pp. 145. 450. 

 464.; Vol. V. pp. 83. 205. 380. 396.] But to return. The result of my 

 observations on glacialis and I'mmer has been a conviction in my mind 

 of their being the same bird in different states of plumage. I have every 

 season been able to procure a number of specimens of them both ; and 

 have thus been enabled, from them, to select for my museum an uninter- 

 rupted succession, proving, by almost imperceptible changes, the transition 

 from Vmmer to glacialis : the former of these, in the early part of their 

 residence here, is much the more coMmon ; but towards the end of spring, 

 when they leave this country, the number of the latter is greatly increased; 

 and though, even at that period, they have not attained the perfect plumage 

 of that bird, yet, the completion of the white spots on the back, and the 

 black bands on the neck though not yet quite perfect, are sufficient 

 to characterise the bird in such a manner that it cannot be mistaken. 

 These birds appear to vary much in size and weight : they generally 

 measure, from the tip of the beak to the end of the tail, about 2 ft. 9 in., 

 and weigh about 9 lbs. ; but I lately got a specimen, in the plumage of 

 I'mmei'y measuring only 2 ft. 4 in., and weighing but 6 lbs.; and, as I can 

 perceive no difference in its bill from that of glacialis, I am forced, in fol- 

 lowing the indications of Temminck, to consider it as that bird, though its 

 diminutive size would have led me to consider it as the young of Coljmbus 

 arcticus, which I have not yet ascertained in this country. That these 

 birds are well able to fly, I have had frequent proofs ; but not so as to their 

 pedestrian capability. One which I got alive and uninjured, on being placed 

 within a few yards of the water, when I was setting it at liberty, remained 

 on its breast, looking wistfully at that element in which it was accustomed 

 and wished to move, but appeared quite incapable of transferring itself to 

 it ; and, though placed repeatedly upright, it always fell down again on its 

 breast : and it was only at length emancipated from this helpless state by 

 being placed close to the edge of the water, when pushing itself along with 

 its wings and feet, it got afloat, and, joyfully diving, bid us a long adieu. 

 The mode in which the toes are jointed with the tarsus prevents their 

 being bent forward out of its line ; and the great sharpness posteriorly of 

 that member renders it almost impossible for it to walk ; and this trial 

 of its powers would seem to indicate that it can only rise on its wing from 

 the water. I therefore think it must hatch on cliffs or low islets, from 

 which, without much exertion of its feet, it could launch itself. 



f The speckled diver is also very common in this country, though the 

 red-throated diver occurs but rarely : I have, therefore, as yet, been unable 

 to trace the connection between them ; but, from analogy with I'mmer^ 1 

 am disposed to coincide with the views of Temminck and suppositions of 

 Edmonstone, and consider stellatus as the young of septentrionalis ; and I 

 think that the reason why the latter, relatively to the former, appears in 



