RED-THKOATED LOON. 305 



sprats, young heiriugs, and codfisli, as well as Crustacea, and 

 I have generally found numerous pebbles and bits of gravel 

 in its stomach. It is neither gregarious, nor yet solitary, 

 several individuals being often seen together, altiiough they 

 seldom keep very near each other, and in most cases the birds 

 occurring dispersed at great distances. 



In the end of spring, having paired, they retire north- 

 ward, the greater number probably betaking themselves to 

 the arctic regions, although very many remain to breed by 

 the inland lakes of the Highlands, Hebrides, Orkney, and 

 Shetland Islands. In Lewis, North Uist, and Benbecuia, 

 which are singularly intersected by arms of the sea, and 

 covered with pools and lakes, great numbers are seen during 

 the breeding season. The sea being at hand, they usually 

 fish there, returning at intervals to the lakes, until incubation 

 has commenced. The nest is placed on an island, or tuft, or 

 among the herbage near the margin, or even on the stony 

 beach, of a lake or pool, and is composed of grass, sedge, and 

 heath, or other easily-procured plants, generally in small 

 quantity, and neatly put together. The eggs, in so far as I am 

 aware, are always two ; but it is stated by some that three as 

 frequently occur. They are of an elongated oval form, the 

 two of the same nest very unequal, the larger three inches in 

 length, and an inch and eleven-twelfths in breadth. They 

 are of a deep or pale olive-brown, or dull greenish-brown, or 

 pale brownish-green colour, spotted and dotted with innber, 

 more densely at the larger end. The male continues with 

 the female, and is said to take his place on the eggs occasion- 

 ally. The female continues to sit, crouching over her eggs, 

 until a person comes very near, when she starts forward, 

 plunges into the water, and on emerging usually takes to 

 Aving, but sometimes SAvims about with great anxiety, as does 

 the male, should he happen to be present. On being de- 

 prived of their eggs, they may be heard for several evenings 

 lamenting their loss with loud melancholy cries. The usual 

 notes, however, are harsh, and somewhat resemble those of the 

 Gannet. The young, at first covered with greyish-black 

 down, betake themselves to the water soon after birth, and 

 continue there under the guidance of their parents until able 



VOL. V. X 



