272 BIRDS OP NORFOLK. 



Mr. Monement tells me it is much the rarer of the two 

 large divers. 



With regard to the assumption of the breeding 

 plumage in this species, I find the following note 

 amongst Mr. Stevenson's papers : — " The black-throated 

 diver in one instance has been killed in December* with 

 the black-throat coming on, therefore they must assume 

 it very early. 1 never saw any others but with white 

 throats here, old and young, but some have spots on 

 the back ; they also never aj)pear before November, and 

 mostly between January and March — surely the one in 

 December was an exceptional case only." 



COLYMBUS SEPTENTRIONALIS, Linn^us. 



EED-THROATED DIVEE. 



The " sprat loon" is by far the most numerous repre- 

 sentative of this family occurring on the coast of Nor- 

 folk. It is found from September or October till March, 

 and, occasionally, as late as the month of April, not un- 

 frequently in the breeding plumage, but more often in 

 the winter dress, young birds being the most common. 

 Although numerous at times all round the coast, and 

 occasionally entering the harbours and tidal rivers, it 

 appears less frequently on fresh waters than the preced- 

 ing species. Exceptions, however, have occurred, as in 

 January, 1838, when one was killed near the New Mills 

 at Norwich; at flickling Broad, in November, 1852, and 

 again in October, 1854 ; at Eockland, January, 1855 ; 

 one shot at Bawburgh, and another at Wroxham, 

 about the same year ; at Hickling, in October, 1865 ; 

 and perhaps in a few other instances, but the pro- 

 portion killed on fresh water is far less than with 

 the black-throated or even the great northern diver. 

 Occasionally this species is quite numerous, as ap- 

 pears to have been the case in October, 1862, when 

 some fine specimens, recorded as retaining their full 



* Tills is probably the specimen in the Norwich Museum. 



