%' ON THE CERE AND LEGS OF BIRDS. 



then raising themselves upright, and having a vigorous flutter; but the adults 

 are very wary and discriminating, for, although they will often allow a 

 boat-load of seaweed, or a man fishing, to pass very near them, the moment 

 a gun is raised they dive and take good care to keep out of reach. A pair 

 in beautiful summer livery remained here throughout May, but were too wary 

 to be procured. 



On the 6th. of June, 1837, I went in chase of a large Diver, which was 

 leisurely swimming about amongst a lot of fishing-boats close in shore, and 

 just as I came up one of them thinking it a wounded bird, was sculling with 

 all his might, and a boy leaning over the bow trying to catch it, whilst 

 the bird merely swam the faster till the boat was just upon it, then dived; 

 and although so fearless of the fishermen would not let us approach within 

 shot, making long dives, and flapping the wings on rising. At length flapping 

 heavily along the surface for some distance, it rose high in the air, and con- 

 tinued flying very swiftly and vigorously for miles, appearing light and active 

 as a Wild Duck on wing. After flying around some time, and alighting 

 from whence it rose, dived a few times, got a star-fish or crab for supper, 

 and whilst dissecting it took good care to keep out of reach. 



Although both this species and the Red-throated Diver depend chiefly on 

 their legs during winter, almost invariably diving to escape pursuit, they fly 

 frequently and vigorously toward spring, particularly the latter, which makes 

 off" as freely as a Wild Duck. 



The above instances, amongst many others which have occurred unrecorded, 

 place the double moult of this species beyond a doubt, and I think satis- 

 factorily account for the non-appearance of the adult summer plumage till 

 May or June, when they migrate to their breeding stations. 



Uad Looe, Cornioall, January, 1852. 



ON THE CERE AND LEGS OF BIRDS. 



BY THE REV. GEORGE SOWDEN. 



In examining the beautiful engravings in the "History of British Birds," 

 by the Rev. F. O. Morris, I have been struck by what appeared to me a 

 somewhat remarkable fact, namely, that with one exception, the Cere and 

 Legs of the VuUuridce and Falconidce are of the same colour. For instance, 

 in the Griflfon Vulture the Cere is bluish black, so are the Legs; in the 

 Osprey and in the Swallow-tailed Kite, both Cere and Legs are blue. In 

 the Erne, Golden and Spotted Eagles, the Harriers, and others, both these 

 parts are yellow; in the Orange-legged Hobby, they are deep orange. The 

 two figures of the Egyptian Vulture exemplify what I state remarkably; in 

 the older bird both Cere and Legs are light yellow, while the younger one 

 has them of a kind of dark bufl!". But while the Cere thus generally corres- 

 ponds with the Legs, this is far from being the case with the lower part 



