THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 173 



this morning, two of which would turn almost 

 completely over on their backs, with one leg in the 

 air, during the act of preening the feathers of the 

 breast." In 1876 he observed a bird flyiiKj Iticjli 

 across the Sound, February 15th. '' This species, 

 however, is but seldom seen on the loing in 

 the winter, unless moving to a distant place." 

 In the autumn of that year, he observed the 

 first arrival of this species on the 30th of 

 October ; a little later he writes : " The severe and 

 long^ continued gales in December, brought an 

 unusual number of Great Northern Divers to our 

 coasts ; " examining twelve in the flesh, and 

 observing as many more in life, justified the 

 comment. Many were killed also in January and 

 February, almost exclusively immature birds. The 

 species had in fact been more plentiful during the 

 winter 1876-77, "than for many years past." In 

 the autumn of 1877, Gatcombe observed the first 

 Great Northern Diver of the season on October 

 29th, and two were killed the next day, on which 

 he remarks : " Northern Divers have made their 

 appearance early this season, as they seldom visit 

 the Sound before November." In 1878, two arrived 

 on the 12th of October, and eight were shot in 

 November and the early part of December. Although 

 the winter 1879-80 proved to be severe, very few 

 Great Northern Divers appeared at Plymouth. In 

 1880, the first appeared in Plymouth Sound on the 

 27tli of November ; one was immature, " the other 



