BLACK-THROATED DIVER. 109 



became more immineut, he would dive without leaving a 

 ripple oil the surface, aiid reappear far out upon the loch. 

 The males of different pairs, when the females are sitting, 

 often join company, and may be seen fishing together on 

 another loch (Pr. N. H. Soc. Glasgow, ii. p. 123). 



The eggs, which are usually two in number, are sometimes 

 laid before the middle of May, and if taken a second pair 

 will generally be found in the vicinity a little later in the 

 season. Their colour is of a dark olive-brown, thinly spotted 

 with black and umber ; the average measurements being 

 8 by 2 inches. The birds are very tenacious of their old 

 breeding-haunts, and will not easily change to a new locality. 



This species is scarcely known to visit the Faeroes, and its 

 occurrence has not been authenticated in Iceland or Green- 

 land ; but with these exceptions it is generally distributed 

 in summer throughout the arctic and sub-arctic regions. 

 The late Mr. Richard Dann sent the Author the following 

 note: — "This beautiful Diver is widely and numerously 

 dispersed over the whole of Scandinavia during the summer 

 months, but it is most abundant in the northern parts. It 

 breeds generally in the interior of the country on small 

 islands, in the most secluded and retired lakes. In Lapland 

 and in the Dofre Field mountains, it is found as high as the 

 birch-tree grows. It makes its first appearance in the spring 

 with the breaking-up of the ice on the lakes. Within twelve 

 hours of open water being seen, this bird never fails to show 

 itself. The eggs are generally two in number. They are of 

 a very rank fishy taste, but much sought after by the Laps. 

 After the young are hatched, both male and female are very 

 assiduous in bringing them food, and at that period are 

 much on the wing, and may be seen flying at a vast height, 

 with fish in their beaks, from one lake to another ; on arriv- 

 ing over the lake where they intend to alight, they descend 

 very suddenly in an oblique direction. The cries of this 

 Diver are very peculiar during the breeding- season, and may 

 be heard at a great distance. This bird is very quick- 

 sighted and difficult to approach, it takes wing with great 

 reluctance, but dives incessantly, taking care to come up far 



