518 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



This species, common to the hyperboreal parts of both 

 continents, is much more rare in the United States than the 

 preceding, and though frequent near the shores of Hudson's 

 Bay is seldom seen in the interior of the fur countries. It 

 abounds in the northern parts of Europe, Norway, Sweden, 

 and Denmark, in the inland lakes of Siberia, especially 

 those of the Arctic regions; it is also seen in Iceland, 

 Greenland and the Feroe Isles. They are held in super- 

 stitious regard by the Norwegians, who believe their cry to 

 portend rain. The skins of this and other species, being 

 tough and impervious to wet, are used by the Indians and 

 Esquimaux as well as by the Norwegians for articles of 

 dress. 



The Arctic Diver is an autumnal and winter bird of pas- 

 sage in England, Germany and Holland, more rare upon 

 the interior lakes of France ; but common upon those of 

 Switzerland. They live on fish, frogs, insects and aquatic 

 plants ; nest in the reeds and herbage upon the borders of 

 lakes and in marshes, preferring those which are much in- 

 tersected by waters ; they are said to lay 2 eggs, which are 

 brown, marked with scattered black spots. 



The length of the Black Throated Diver is about 2G inches; the 

 wing 11 inches. The forehead, back, wings, tail, flanks, and thigh 

 feathers, are black. The scapulars and shoulders marked with trans- 

 verse white spots, and the wing coverts with round spots. Hind- 

 head and back of the neck ash-colored ; sides of the latter and of 

 the breast white, streaked with black. Fore part of the neck black, 

 reflecting purple and green. The under tail coverts barred with 

 black : the rest of the under plumage white. 



The young closely resemble those of C. glacialis, but may be dis- 

 tinguished by their inferior size, and the character of tlie bill as 

 already given. 



