326 COLYMBfD.E. 



Dann, Esq. sent me word that the Northern Diver occasion- 

 ally appears on the lakes and rivers in Tornea and Lulea 

 Lapmark early in spring, on the first breaking up of the ice, 

 but is a rare visitant. Although well known to the Laps, 

 all agreed it appeared but seldom. It, in all probability, 

 traverses Lapland on its passage east from the north-west 

 coast of Norway. It breeds on some of the islands of Fin- 

 mark, but is rarely seen in Sweden, except in Avinter. The 

 Northern Diver breeds on the Faroe Islands, and Mr. Proc- 

 tor thus notices Avhat occurred to him, in reference to this 

 species, on his recent visit to Iceland. It breeds on the 

 lochs of fresh water about a day's journey from Myvatn, a 

 single egg was deposited on the bare ground, but just out 

 of water-mark, rather under a rugged bank on some broken 

 ground. I was successful in finding two nests. I allowed 

 the single egg to remain in one of them, in the expectation 

 that another egg would be laid to it, but was disappointed. 

 The old bird was very shy, and always left the egg on our 

 approach, when at a great distance off, taking to the water 

 and keeping so far from the side as not to be within shot. 



The Great Northern Diver visits Spitzbergen and Green- 

 land in summer; it was observed by Dr. Richardson and 

 others on all the lakes of the interior of the Fur-countries 

 of North America, and is said to breed as far north as the 

 latitude of 70°, going southward for the winter season, and 

 is well known and described by the ornithologists of the 

 United States. Its flesh is dark, tough, and unpalatable. 



The Northern Diver, in its adult state, is a rare bird in 

 Germany, France, or Switzerland. M. Savi says that one 

 only, and that a young bird, had been taken in Italy in his 

 knowledge. Mr. Gould states that it has been found as 

 far south as latitude 86°. Young birds migrate farther than 

 old ones. 



The bird in its fully adult i)lumagc has the beak black ; 



