736 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



on the coast, appears to be more frequently found on inland 

 waters, and, in addition to those mentioned by Allis, and 

 in the text, it has been recorded from Halifax — one on Pelton 

 Reservoir, in December 1874, and a second in January 1886, 

 both of which are in the Halifax Museum ; — from Sowerby 

 Bridge ; Hambleton ; Wakefield, and near Bingley (in the 

 winter of 1887-88). The latest occurrence on the River 

 Hull was on 28th February 1905. 



RED-THROATED DIVER. 



Colymbus septentrionalis (L.). 



Winter visitant, common, and regular in appearance ; immature 

 birds sometimes remain off the coast all the year round. Occurs 

 on inland waters, but not numerously. 



The reference to the Speckled Diver in the Allan MS. 

 (1791), is probably meant for this species, which is described 

 as " Common in winter in our seas and rivers — called by the 

 fishermen Sprat Loon, being often seen in vast numbers 

 among the shoals of sprats." Though, in his description 

 of its plumage and eggs, that writer seems to have confused 

 the bird with its larger congener, the Great Northern Diver 

 (Fox's " Synopsis," p. 93). 



Thomas Allis, in 1844, referred to this bird as follows : — 



Colymbus septentrionalis. — Red-throated Diver — One specimen is 

 reported by Dr. Farrar as shot at WooUey Park, the seat of Godfrey 

 Wentworth, Esq., in July 1833, which is now in his possession ; he 

 met with a young bird which fell exhausted at Bankes Hall, near 

 Barnsley, and another that was shot at Staincross ; the young birds 

 have been taken several times near Sheffield in winter ; it is rare 

 at Hebden Bridge, and also at Doncaster ; several have been shot near 

 Huddersfield ; W. Eddison has one specimen, now in the Huddersfield 

 Museum ; it is rare about Leeds, but one was at Harehills Lane in 

 January 1829 ; another in the river Aire in 1838 ; the immature bird 

 is not infrequently obtained in winter near York ; in full plumage it 

 is very rare. 



This, the smallest of the Colymbidae, is also the most 



