332 COL YM BID.*;. 



throated Diver occasionally in the fiords on the west coast 

 of Norway, Richard Dann, Esq. sent me the following 

 note : — " This beautiful Diver is widely and numerously dis- 

 persed over the whole of Scandinavia during the summer 

 months, but is most abundant in the northern parts. It 

 breeds generally in the interior of the country on small 

 islands, in the most secluded and retired lakes. In Lapland 

 and in the Dofre Fiell mountains, it is found as high as the 

 birch-tree grows. It makes its first appearance in the spring 

 with the breaking up of the ice on the lakes. Within twelve 

 hours of open water being seen, this bird never fails to show 

 itself. The eggs are generally two in number. They are 

 of a very rank fishy taste, but much sought after by the 

 Laps. After the young are hatched both male and female 

 are very assiduous in bringing them food, and at that period 

 are much on the wing, and may be seen flying at a vast 

 height, with fish in their beaks, from one lake to another ; 

 on arriving over the lake where they intend to alight, they 

 descend very suddenly in an oblique direction. The cries 

 of this Diver are very peculiar during the breeding-season, 

 and may be heard at a great distance. This bird is very 

 quick-sighted and difficult to approach, it takes wing with 

 great reluctance, but dives incessantly, taking care to come 

 up far out of shot. On the approach of winter the old birds 

 retire to the west coast of Norway. They make their ap- 

 pearance in the southern parts but rarely. The young birds, 

 however, migrate in considerable numbers to more temperate 

 climes, and are found at that period in the open parts of the 

 Baltic, in the Elbe, and on the coast of Holland." 



Linneus, in his Lapland tour, mentions having seen this 

 bird at Lycksele, Lulea, and Tornea ; caps are made of the 

 skin of it, which is very tough when properly prepared. 

 Linneus observes, also, that this bird uttered a melancholy 

 note ; and Sir Arthur de Capel Brooke, says its voice re- 



