296 COLYMBUS ARCTICUS. 



with several longitudinal Avhite streaks, the margins of the 

 feathers heiiig of that colour. On tlie hnvcr part of the neck 

 anteriorly is a broad space similarly marked. The upper 

 parts of the body are glossy black, tinged with green. On 

 the fore part of the back are two longitudinal bands of trans- 

 verse white bars, formed by the tips of the feathers. The 

 scapulars, excepting the outer, are also marked with trans- 

 verse rows of rather large square spots. Wing-coverts black, 

 most of them with two roundish white spots near the end. 

 The quills are blackish-brown, tinged with grey on the outer, 

 and paler on the inner webs. The lower parts of the body 

 are pure white, excepting a longitudinal band on the sides 

 under the wing, which is dusky. 



Length to end of tail 28 inches, to end of wings 26 ; wing 

 from flexure 12 j ; tail 2f ; bill along the ridge 2-pj, along the 

 edge of lower mandible 3-j% ; its height at the base fV ; tarsus 

 S-jSg- ; hind toe y^, its claw -f-^ ; second toe 3-fj, its claw -^ ; 

 third toe 3-^, its claw -^ ; fourth toe 4^, its claw -f^. 



Female. — The female is similar to the male, but smaller. 

 Length to end of tail 25 inches. 



Habits. — The Black-throated Diver begins to appear 

 along our northern coasts about the end of September, fre- 

 quenting the bays and estuaries, but in small numbers. In 

 winter it is to be seen here and there along all the coasts of 

 Britain, the number of young birds greatly exceeding that of 

 adult, but not nearly so great as that of the young E-ed- 

 throated Loons. Most of them depart by the end of April, a 

 few only remaining to breed in the more northern parts of 

 Scotland, and some of its islands. It sits deep in the water, 

 when alarmed often proceeds with little more than its neck 

 and head apparent, swims with surprising speed, flies gene- 

 rally high, with rapidity, in a direct course, with outstretched 

 neck, and quick beats of the wings. Its food consists of 

 fishes, Crustacea, and sometimes testaceous mollusca. In 

 winter it is seldom seen on rivers or lakes ; but in summer it 

 betakes itself to inland waters, and there constructs its nest, 

 which, however, I have not met with. Mr. Selby gives the 



