514 I'ALMll'EDES. 



coast, as also on lakes and ponds. They are usually 

 met with in pairs, or in small parties, swimming 

 about in search of fish and otlier aquatic animals, 

 which constitute their food. Owing- to the flatness 

 of their bodies, they lie deep in the water, so that 

 when resting on the surfjice little more than their 

 neck is visible. They swim and dive with wonder- 

 ful velocity, but they rarely fly, and then their flight 

 is performed heavily and high in the air. The eggs, 

 which are two to three in number, are deposited on 

 the bare ground, or in a nest composed of dry 

 weeds ; in either case they are placed near the 

 water^s edge. 



The type of this sub-family, — 



The Northern Diver (Coh/mbus glacialis), is common 

 on all the coasts of the North Sea, a,s well as on the inlainl 

 lakes of high latitudes. Its priiici})al food consists of fish ; 

 and when inhabiting the ocean the different species of 

 herring afford it an abundant supply. Its powei^ of 

 swimming and diving are very remarkable, particularly 

 the latter, which it is constantly exercising, either in 

 pursuit of prey or to escape ol)servation. 



"To see them from some promontory, agamst which the 

 air and the sea are setting full wind and tide, and driving 

 before them myriads of herrings and other surface- fishes, 

 is a glorious sight. They dash along the surface, they 

 dart under it, they bounce up again, they bore through 

 the advancing waves, and when the billow breaks in foam, 

 and thunders over them, and the spectator naturally con- 

 cludes that they are buried for ever in the deep, up they 

 spring to the surface of the unbroken water further fi^m 

 the land, as though exulting in the tumults of the ele- 

 ments."- — [Mudie. ) 



One of these ])irds will frequently make its way untler 

 water for a hundred or a hundred and fiity yards without 

 rising for respiration ; and when it comes up to breathe, • 

 a moment's exposure of the head and bill is sufficient for 

 the purpose. In swimming, its body is deeply immersed, 

 owing to its weight and flatness, a position which allows 

 this bird to dive with little apparent exertion, the mere 

 depression of its head, and a slight propulsive effort with 



