353 



©riginal §.rticlcs. 



RECENT CAPTURE OF DIRDS IX NORTHUMBERLAND. 



By T. II. (;] 



Blackthroated Diver (Cohjmhus arctic us J. — I have before me a very 

 fine specimen of tlds bird captiu'ed on tlie 1st instant on " Rondicar," a reef 

 of rocks jutting out on our adjacent sea board. Its plimiage still retains here 

 and there a trace of the beautiful summer dress. The forehead, crown, 

 occiput, and the nape of the neck dovm. to the anterior part of the back is 

 one uniform steel grey tint. The middle and posterior regions of the back, 

 dark grey, intermixed with iiTegular jiatches of ebony black. The scapulars 

 abundantly dis^^ersed with black feathers, on the tips of each of which aro 

 placed two longitudmal spots of vivid whiteness. The tail feathers ovate, 

 and slightly acuminated, of a dark grey, nearly approaching to black, and 

 margined with white. Upper tail coverts dark — ^dngs same colour as the 

 back, their secondaries and upper coverts tipped with two round white spots. 

 The lose ear coverts, throat, breast, sternum and abdomen, pure white, sides 

 of the body dark margined with white ; under wing coverts white ; tarsus a 

 very pale yellowish blue on the inside — outer portions daxjf bro^vnish grey ; 

 toes and web same as inside of tarsi ; length of bill from the angle of the 

 mouth, three-and-a-quarter-inches ; upper mandible, black, inclining to a blue 

 slate coloured grey at the base ; lower mandible, blue grey, approaching a 

 flesh tint at its junction with the chin. Total length twenty-six inches; 

 Aveight, three pounds eleven omices. 



Cohjmhus arcticiis is a rare visitant on the Northumbrian coast, and is 

 seldom seen except after severe gales from the North-east. In tlie Avinter of 

 1862, an individual was shot in the Tyne above Newcastle, and ^Mr. Rape, 

 game dealer of that town, recollects purchasing one in the flesh in the 

 summer plumage many years ago, but I am not enabled to give the date of 

 its capture. 



Great Crested Grebe (Podicejys cristcdus). — About the middle of last 

 month, one of these graceful birds was secured near to North Sunderland. 

 At the same place, and about the same period, a male Tufted Duck (Anas 

 fuligula) was killed, and a few weeks previous to this, a very beautiful adult 

 male Goldeneye (Anas clamjula) fell to the gun of a fisherman. This 

 is a charmmg specimen, being fully matiu-ed and very perfect in pliunage. 

 No. 23, Aiyril 1. eb 



