699 



THE RED-THROATED DIVER. 



COLYMBUS SEPTENTRtONALIS, LinnO^US. 



This species is the smallest as well as the most abundant member 

 of the genus ; immature birds and — in fewer numbers — adults with 

 the white throats characteristic of winter-plumage being found on 

 all the coasts of the British Islands from autumn to spring. In May 

 examples with red throats are noticed, increasing in frequency as 

 we proceed northwards ; while in Scotland we find this Diver 

 breeding, in variable though sometimes considerable numbers, in 

 most — if not all — of the Hebrides, and on the mainland from 

 Argyllshire upwards, as well as in the Orkneys and Shetlands. To 

 Ireland it is a regular visitor during the cold season, and a few 

 pairs have recently been found nesting on some of the loughs in 

 Donegal. In pursuit of fish it frequents estuaries and is often met 

 with far up rivers, sometimes occurring on inland waters in winter 

 as well as in summer. 



