GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. l8l 



almost incredible depth, and, instead of rising near the antici- 

 pated spot, appear quietly swimming away far out of shot 

 seaward. In smooth water, a boat and its moving shadow can 

 be seen from beneath the surface of the water for a consider- 

 able distance, and hence the bird is most frequently dodged 

 and shot during a breeze. The instant it perceives itself 

 threatened with danger, it either sinks the body low in the 

 water or entirely disa]:)pears, seldom emerging before it has 

 traversed a distance of a hundred yards, or perhaps even five 

 times that space, according to its idea of the extent of the 

 danger. When once it has become thoroughly alarmed, 

 further pursuit is generally hopeless, unless it happens to cross 

 the track of the boat, as it will do occasionally, instead of 

 proceeding in a line direcdy from it. When the bird chooses 

 any other course than its favourite one, directly to the wind- 

 ward, a boat under sail in a stiff breeze will sometimes overtake 

 it, but such a chance is rarely met with. Before its habits 

 were so well known to me as they are now, I used to pursue 

 it in a four-oared boat, but always unsuccessfully ; lately, how- 

 ever, I have been able to get within range with a single pair 

 of oars, but with a boat more manageable than those of the 

 ordinary kind. As the boat approaches at first, the Diver 

 sinks the body very low — so low, indeed, that the water covers 

 the hollow of the neck ; and the chances are that, when fired 

 at, it will escape by diving, unless the favourable moment be 

 selected when the bird submerges the head, or turns it aside, 

 or rises to flap its wings. I have once seen it take wing imme- 

 diately on being shot at, and on many occasions after emerging 

 from a dive taken to avoid a shot. At any time it rises with 

 great difficulty, and in calm weather especially is very awkw^ard, 

 splashing along the surface with wings and feet for a hundred 

 yards or more, the attempt, as often as not, resulting in a 

 return to its more natural element. The mode in which this 

 bird dives cannot be easily explained in words. I have 

 watched it most carefully, but always with an unsatisfactory 

 result ; it merely gives a slight start, if my meaning may be 

 so expressed, and disappears in an instant. When wounded 

 in such a manner as to be disabled from diving, it is a very 

 awkward bird to hand'e. It will allow a boat to run close up 

 without displaying any sign of activity ; but the moment a 



