204 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



islands that lie out in the Atlantic off the west coast 

 of Mull. In the present instance, though, I was 

 sailing down a very rugged coast line, which runs in 

 the direction of lona. In this locality — an ideal one 

 for sea-birds — there were all sorts of cliff formation, 

 stacks of rock, large subterranean caverns, and here 

 it was I found the birds you see in evidence, though 

 certainly not in any great numbers. I had to shoot 

 them as they flew off the rocks and came past the 

 boat. They are rather fast fliers on the wing and 

 wonderful at diving — as are all the Auk family for 

 that matter. 



There is something interesting about the young of 

 this species, which I gather from Mr.W. H. Hudson's 

 book. When they fly down to the sea in the early 

 morning they do not return to the rocks again simply 

 because they are not strong enough to fiy upwards. 

 When the young one is obstinate the mother will 

 take it by the back of the neck and fly down to the 

 sea. . . . The parent teaches the young bird to 

 dive by taking it by the neck and diving with it. 



CASE 43. 



THE BLACK THROATED DIVER. 



Order, Pygopodes. Family, Colynibidce. 



These splendid specimens I am naturally very 

 proud of, for I think it is no exaggeration to say that 

 they are in finer plumage than the two I have seen 



