694 GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 



and on the 28th, a few hours before leaving Lerwick. I was assured 

 on good authority that a very young specimen had just been brought 

 in ah've by the ' Earl of Zetland,' a small steamer which then served 

 the northern islands. There are many instances of the occurrence 

 of this species during migration on lakes and meres in various 

 parts of the United Kingdom. 



In winter the Great Northern Diver is found along the Atlantic 

 sea-board of Europe, while it also visits the ^Mediterranean and 

 Black Seas ; and immature birds are often found on inland waters. 

 It is well known in the Faeroes and Norway from autumn to spring, 

 but it seldom goes far up the Baltic ; and in the Arctic portions 

 of European Russia and of Asiatic Siberia its representative appears 

 to be C. adamsi, the next species. In Iceland our Diver is abundant, 

 one or two pairs nesting on nearly every lake ; and it also breeds 

 plentifully in the southern districts of Greenland : while in North 

 America, where it is known as the Loon, it is found in summer 

 throughout the Fur countries below the Arctic circle, and down to 

 Maine. At Great Slave Lake it meets with C. adajiisi, which is its 

 representative to the northward and westward; in winter it ranges 

 southward to Me.xico. 



The nest — always near fresh water, on a small island or the margin 

 of a lake or pond — is usually composed of flattened herbage and 

 moss, though sometimes the eggs are laid on the bare ground. 

 These, normally 2 in number, are of an olive-brown, with a ^qw darker 

 spots : average measurements 3*5 by 2*5 in. A distinct track is often 

 made by the bird's sliding and floundering progress to and from the 

 water ; and safety is usually sought by diving rather than by taking 

 wing. The food is chiefly fish, and a specimen has been captured 

 in the meshes of a trammel-net 30 fathoms below the surface of the 

 sea. The cry — frequently uttered by night — is a weird and melan- 

 choly howl ; a low croak is also emitted. 



The adult has the bill black ; irides red ; head and neck black, 

 glossed with purple on the upper throat and with green on the lower 

 neck; about 12 white streaks on the upper throat-band and 18 on 

 the lower ; mantle black spotted with white ; belly chiefly white. 

 Length from 30 to t,^ in., wing 13-14 in. ; males being decidedly 

 larger than females and often weighing upwards of 8 lbs. here, while 

 reaching 15 lbs. in America. In winter the black throat-bands are 

 lost for a short time. The young bird has the feathers of the upper 

 parts greyish-black, with paler margins ; under surface dull white ; 

 bill brownish horn-colour. 



