GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 101 



a great distance off, taking to the water and keeping so far 

 from the side as not to be within shot." 



The eggs are usually two in number, but Audubon says, 

 in bis account of this species, that in North America three 

 are more frequently deposited. They are of a dark olive- 

 brown, with a few spots of umber- brown ; average measure- 

 ments, 3"5 by 2*25 in. The female when on her nest lies 

 flat upon her eggs, and if disturbed by the too near approach 

 of an intruder, makes her way to the water by scrambling, 

 sliding, and pushing herself along, occasionally running with 

 the body inclined forwards ; the thighs being closely attached 

 to the hinder part of the body, the motion is principally con- 

 fined to the tarsi and toes. The water gained, she imme- 

 diately and invariably dives rather than flies off, sometimes 

 using the wings under water. Though its wings are short, 

 the flight of the bird is strong and rapid, but it usually 

 resorts to diving to eff'ect an escape. 



Montagu, in the Appendix to the Supplement to his 

 Ornithological Dictionary, says, " A Northern Diver taken 

 alive, was kept in a pond for some months, which gave us 

 an opportunity of attending to its manners. In a few days 

 it became extremely docile, would come at the call from 

 one side of the pond to the other, and would take food 

 from the hand. The bird had received an injury in the 

 head, which had deprived one eye of its sight, and the 

 other was a little impaired ; but, notwithstanding, it could, 

 by incessantly diving, discover all the fish that was thrown 

 into the pond. In defect of fish it would eat flesh. It is 

 observable that the legs of this bird are so constructed and 

 situated, as to render it incapable of walking upon them. 

 This is probably the case with all the Divers, as well as 

 the Grebes. When this bird quitted the water, it shoved 

 its body along upon the ground like a seal, by jerks, rub- 

 bing the breast against the ground ; and returned again to 

 the water in a similar manner. In swimming and diving, 

 the legs only are used, and not the wings, as in the Guille- 

 mot and Auk tribes ; and by their situation so far behind, 

 and their little deviation from the line of the body, it is 



