GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 323 



often put down his head and eyes into the water to observe 

 the situation of his prey. This bird was a most expert and 

 indefatigable diver, and remained down sometimes for several 

 minutes, often swimming under water, and as it were flying 

 with the velocity of an arrow in the air. Though at length 

 inclining to become docile, and showing no alarm when 

 visited, it constantly betrayed its wandering habits, and 

 every night was found to have waddled to some hiding-place, 

 where it seemed to prefer hunger to the loss of liberty, and 

 never could be restrained from exercising its instinct to move 

 onwards to some secure or more suital)le asylum." 



During their breeding-season the Northern Divers fre- 

 quent islands, in lakes and pools of fresh water, forming a 

 flattened nest of dead herbage, among reeds and flags, from 

 eight or ten yards to a distance of forty yards from the 

 water''s edge. The frequent passage of the birds to and 

 from their nest to the water, produces a path or track, by 

 which the nest is sometimes discovered. 



The eggs are usually two in number, but Mr. Audubon 

 mentions, in his account of this species, that three eggs are 

 sometimes deposited. These are of a dark olive-brown, with 

 a few spots of umber-brown ; the length of the egg three 

 inches six lines, by two inches and three lines in breadth. 

 The female when on her nest lies flat upon her eggs, and 

 if disturbed by the too near approach of an intruder, makes 

 her way to the water by scrambling, sliding, and pushing 

 herself along, occasionally running with the body inclined 

 forwards, the thighs being closely attached to the hinder 

 part of the body, the motion is principally confined to the 

 tarsi and toes. The water gained she immediately and in- 

 variably dives, rather than flies off, sometimes using the 

 wings under water. Though its wings are short, the flight 

 of the bird is strong and rapid, yet it always resorts to diving 

 to effect an escape. Sir William Jardine says, " the Great 



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