306 COLYMBUS SEriENTRIONALIS. 



to ily, \vh(>ii tlii^y all wiii;^- their \\av to the sea. The eggs 

 are laid in the beginning of" June, and the young fledged by 

 tiic middle of August. 



Like the Great Northern Diver, this species is more easily 

 procured by lying in wait on the shore in places frequented 

 by it ; but it is less addicted than that species to fishing close 

 to the margin of the sea, by far the greater number keeping 

 well out in the firths and lochs, and many frequenting the 

 open sea at a great distance from land. In the breeding 

 season, when on fresh-water lakes, it is extremely vigilant 

 and suspicious, swims off to the opposite side, Avith elevated 

 head, when a person appears even at a distance, and cannot 

 be shot without much trouble. I have seen it caught on one 

 of the hooks of a fishing-line baited Avith a sand-eel, and it is 

 sometimes entangled in the herring and salmon nets. It is 

 very tenacious of life, and although severely Avoundcd com- 

 monly escapes, as it can easily outstriji a boat. 



Young. — When fledged, the young are said by M. Tem- 

 minck to be " of a pretty uniform blaekish-broAvn on the 

 upper part, and Avhitish on the loAvcr." I have not examined 

 them in that state ; but from November to February they are 

 as folloAvs : — 



Young in Winter. — The bill is flesh-coloured at the 

 base, pale bluish-grey tOAvard the end, the ridge dusky-broAvn, 

 becoming paler beyond the middle. The iris broAvn. The 

 feet externally dusky, internally and Avith the ridge of the 

 tarsus light bluish-grey ; the membranes dusky at the sides, 

 dull flesh-coloured in the middle ; the chiAvs pale flesh-colour, 

 brown at the end. The upper part of the head and the hind- 

 neck are greenish-grey, finely streaked Avith pale grey, the 

 latter predominating on the neck ; the cheeks and sides of 

 the neck Avhite, with faint grey markings ; the fore part of 

 the neck also Avhite, and still more faintly marked Avith grey 

 in small specks ; the tips of the feathers being of that colour 

 for half way doAvn the neck. All the upper parts are of a 

 deep gi-eenish-grey, glossy, and finely speckled Avitli greyish- 

 Avhite, of Avhich there are two oblong divergent spots on each 



