732 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE 



Scarborough upwards of one hundred and fifty were taken 

 to the taxidermists ; many were also reported at Spurn. 

 Out of nineteen dissected at Scarborough eleven were females, 

 two males, and the remaining six were too much decomposed 

 for accurate examination. In February 1901 I noticed 

 considerable numbers swimming at sea off Redcar, some shew- 

 ing the head only, and apparently in search of food, diving 

 close under the surface and appearing almost like fishes, 

 though others loomed as large as Razorbills at two hundred 

 yards' distance. 



The instances of the occurrence of this species in inland 

 localities are too numerous for recapitulation ; suffice it to 

 state that there are few districts from which it has not been 

 reported at some time or other, and one of the very few 

 records of its appearance in summer was near Tadcaster, 

 where one was found dead in a grass field on i6th July 1885 



Vernacular names : — Rotche and Iceland Auk, in general 

 use, and Dwarf Auk in the Flamborough district. 



GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 



Colymbus glacialis (L.). 



Winter visitant, regular, but not common, on the coast ; also occurs 

 inland, though rarely. Arrives in September, leaves in April or May 



Probably the earliest evidence of the connection of this 

 bird with Yorkshire is that in Willughby's " Ornithology," 

 under the title of " The Greatest Speckled Diver or Loon — 

 Colymbus niaximtts caudahis. I have seen four of them .... 

 One in Yorkshire at Dr. Henley's, shot near Cawood." 



And under the title of " Gesner's Greatest Doucker," the 

 following appears : — Mr. Johnson [of Brignall, near Greta 

 Bridge], in his papers sent us, writes that he hath seen a bird 

 of this kind, without any spots on its Back or wings, but yet 

 thinks it not to differ specifically but accidentally." (Will. 

 " Orn." 1678, pp. 341-2.) 



