RED-THROATED DIVER 511 
not a few as early as September. Throughout the winter 
this Diver may be seen fishing in the open sea, as well as 
in sheltered bays and on tidal rivers, while a small number 
resort to fresh-water lakes. 
During April and early May I have noted several in 
nuptial dress, with richly-coloured red throats, in the 
Irish Channel and along the rugged coast-line of the 
west of Ireland. Mature birds in transition-plumage from 
nuptial to winter, still retaining to a certain extent their 
red throats, have been obtained in autumn, while Mr. 
Warren records one instance of a starved specimen, 1n 
full nuptial plumage, not long dead, which he picked up 
on the Shgo coast on July 24th, 1890. But the majority 
which frequent our coasts are immature birds, together 
with adults which have already assumed their more sombre 
winter-dress. 
In May the Red-throated Diver migrates northward to 
breed, and except in the north-western section of Scotland, 
including the Hebrides, Orkneys, and Shetlands, and in a 
few localities in the north-west of Ireland where it nests, it 
is of rare occurrence during June, July, and August. 
In fine, sunny weather, small parties may be seen rest- 
ing buoyantly on the surface of the calm sea, or rolling 
and tumbling from side to side in ecstasies of delight, 
habit which when first witnessed gives one the idea that 
the birds are fluttering from the effects of a recent gun-shot 
wound. 
This species can travel great distances under water, and 
when closely pursued, will appear on the surface only for 
‘an instant to take breath, before disappearing again. Like 
others of its Genus, it goes down practically without leaving 
a ripple to mark the place of immersion. 
Flight.—The flight is swift and moderately buoyant, 
and this bird like its congeners, possesses the power of 
precipitating itself from a great height in the air into the 
waves in pursuit of fish. T have seen it crossing over land 
in the vicinity of adjacent lakes, as though it were changing. 
its quarters from one to the other; and have further 
noticed how, on many occasions, it will take wing rather 
than dive at the approach of a boat, while its habits of 
coursing up and down tidal channels have been frequently 
observed. But it must not be supposed that it usually tries 
to escape its enemies by flight, on the contrary, its diving- 
powers afford it by far the best and most ready means of 
eluding observation. 
