2IO CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



give his valuable opinion and sum up the position 

 generally. 



It was most interesting to watch the combined 

 efforts of these two Divers to solve what was to 

 them a very difficult problem. At times they would 

 separate, open their beaks from various points 

 around me, come together again, and consult. Once 

 they nearly got behind me, but in all their 

 manoeuvres they avoided coming within shot. 



At last, my patience becoming exhausted, I 

 thought I would risk a shot, although, with my 

 head almost level with the water I could not 

 properly estimate the distance. 



The birds were near toofether which was some- 

 thing in my favour, so I raised my gun and fired. 

 Bang! missed by Jove!! shot an inch too short! 

 Divers under the water like a flash of greased light- 

 ning, and away down the loch. Bang ! again, as 

 they passed an island where the keeper and ghillie 

 were, but no result ; got into the boat with keeper 

 and ghillie, and followed after in the direction they 

 went. Saw them on the far side across the loch 

 more than half a mile off, edging towards a bay, 

 which, if they continued on along the shore would 

 eventually bring them past a promontory. After 

 a little consultation it was decided that I should be 

 landed on the promontory, move a little way down 

 the shore, and lay well back under an overhanging 

 bank, whilst they on their part went out into the 

 loch and made demonstrations with the boat, 

 calculated to drive the birds past my position. 



