102 COLYMBIDiE. 



enabled to propel itself in the water with great velocity in a 

 straight line, as well as turn with astonishing quickness." 



Nuttall, of Boston, who kept one for some time, gives the 

 following account of its manners: — "A young bird of this 

 species which I transferred to a fish-pond, made a good deal 

 of plaint, and would sometimes wander out of his more 

 natural element, and hide and bask in the grass. On these 

 occasions he lay very still until nearly approached, and then 

 slid into the pond and uttered his usual plaint. When out 

 at a distance he made the same cautious efforts to hide, and 

 would commonly defend himself in great anger, by darting 

 at the intruder, and striking powerfully with his dagger- 

 like bill. This bird appeared to sufier from the glare of 

 broad daylight, and was inclined to hide from its effects, 

 but became very active towards the dusk of the evening. 

 The pupil of the eye in this individual, like that of noc- 

 turnal animals, appeared indeed dilatable ; and the one in 

 question often put down his head and eyes into the water to 

 observe the situation of his prey. This bird was a most 

 expert and indefatigable diver, often swimming under water, 

 and, as it were, flying with the velocity of an arrow in the 

 air. Though at length inclining to become docile, and 

 showing no alarm when visited, it constantly betrayed its 

 wandering habits, and every night was found to have wad- 

 dled to some hiding-place, where it seemed to prefer hunger 

 to the loss of liberty, and never could be restrained from 

 exercising its instinct to move onwards to some secure or 

 more suitable asylum." 



The natural food of this Diver is fish and crustaceans, 

 and some pebbles and gravel are generally to be found in 

 the stomach. In pursuit of its prey it has been known to 

 descend to great depths : An example in nearly full summer- 

 dress, given to Mr. Gatcombe by Mr. Stephen Clogg of 

 Looe, was caught in the meshes of a trammel-net thirty 

 fathoms below the surface of the water. Its cry is a most 

 weird and melancholy howl, frequently uttered at night ; it 

 also emits a low croak. 



The bird in its fully adult ])lumage has the beak black ; 



