300 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



are ashy brown and the under parts white ; all the neck decora- 

 tion is lost, but the top of the head is paler than the back and 

 wings ; there is a brownish patch on the side of the neck. 

 Faint pale edges occasionally show, but these are more distinct, 

 forming bars, on immature birds, which otherwise resemble old 

 birds in winter. The bill of both adult in winter and young 

 is bluish horn, the legs are browner, and the irides reddish 

 brown rather than crimson. Length, 2775 ins. Wing, I2'8 ins. 

 Tarsus, 3*i ins. 



Great Northern Diver. Colymbus wwier Briinn. 



As a winter visitor to British seas the Great Northern Diver 

 (Plate 130) is not uncommon ; it has not been known to breed, 

 even in the Shetlands, though a few non-breeding, apparently 

 mature birds occasionally remain in northern waters for the 

 summer. Iceland is the nearest breeding station to Britain, and 

 from there the range extends westward through Greenland 

 and northern Canada to the Asiatic coast. Birds have been 

 seen off the English coast in August, but usually they do not 

 appear until October, and most have returned north before the 

 end of April, stragglers only passing in May. 



Seebohm's " as big as a goose " — he does not say which goose ! 

 — gives a very rough idea of the size of this handsome diver, 

 yet it certainly is the size which commands attention when it 

 appears, as it often does, on inland waters and swims amongst 

 more familiar fowl. The bird in nuptial dress, which is usually 

 lost in September, though one was obtained in Ireland in full 

 plumage so late as October 31st, differs from the Black-throated 

 Diver ; its head is glossy black, not slate-grey, and it has two 

 half-collars of white spots on the neck instead of one, the lower 

 and additional one being the larger. Though, when in winter 

 dress, the large size and heavy, dagger-shaped bill are striking, 

 such characters are of little use when it is solitary, and the bird 

 frequently travels alone. Often, however, a dark mottled grey 



