304 COLYMBUS SEPTENTRIONALIS. 



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

 Length to end of tail 23 inches ; extent of wings 41. 



Habits. — From the beginning of October to the middle 

 of May, numerous individuals of this species are met -with 

 on most parts of our coasts, but more especially in bays 

 and estuaries, the youg birds being proportionally more 

 numerous in the southern than on the north(;rn shores, 

 although many remain all winter even among the Shetland 

 and Orkney islands. At that season they are very abundant 

 in the Firths of Forth and Clyde, where I have often had 

 occasion to observe their movements. When proceeding to a 

 distance they advance in a direct course, rapidly moving their 

 outstretched wings, and keeping at a great height. Their 

 flight is surprisingly quick, or at least ought to seem so in the 

 eyes of one who has been taught that large Avings and promi- 

 nent sterna indicate the greatest vigour in this respect. They 

 fly, I think, with even more speed than the Great Northern 

 Divers, and even outstrip the Auks and Guillemots, not to 

 speak of Gulls and other hoverers. These white-breasted 

 birds, with their long outstretched necks, and ever-moving 

 wings, present a curious and interesting sight to him who 

 traverses these narrow seas in an open boat in quest of game. 

 But small indeed is his chance of shooting a Red-throated 

 Diver, that bird, when on the water, being extremely vigilant, 

 and seldom permitting a boat to approach within shot, 

 although it will often allow a large vessel to pass quite near, 

 and I have seen it rise from almost under the boAvs of a 

 steamer, along Avith the Auks and Guillemots. When then, 

 or on other occasions, taking Aving from the Avater, it flies for 

 many yards along its surface, its feet and Avings plashing in a 

 very curious manner. In alighting it comes doAvn nearly 

 erect, ploughing up the Avater for a short Avay. Its activity 

 in its proper element is astonishing ; it SAvims Avith extreme 

 speed, keeping deep in the Avater, and sometimes only alloAv- 

 ing its head and neck to emerge. In diving it slips as it 

 Avere out of sight without noise or flutter, and under the 

 Avater it pursues its Avay Avith great speed, using its Avings as 

 Avell as its feet. Its food consists of small fishes, especially 



