33G C0LY3IBID,E. 



The Red-throated Diver is the smallest species of 

 the genus, as well as the most common ; and the occurrence 

 of specimens with white throats in winter is so constant and 

 so frequent, while those with red throats, at the same time 

 of the year, are so rare, that the question has been asked, 

 and with some reason, is not the dark-coloured throat in the 

 three species of the genus Colymbus, an appearance peculiar 

 to the breeding-season ? but to this part of the subject I 

 shall return before concluding the account of the Diver with 

 the red throat. 



Mr. William Thompson, of Belfast, considers this species 

 a regular winter visitant to Ireland, and records it as having 

 been killed at places on the north, the east, the west, and 

 also at Youglial in the south. It has been killed on the 

 coast of South Wales, as noticed by Mr. Dillwyn ; it is very 

 frequently observed and obtained in winter on the coasts of 

 Cornwall and Devon. Colonel Hawker notices them on the 

 coasts of Dorsetshire and Hampshire ; specimens have been 

 shot on the coast of Sussex ; it is common about the estuary 

 of the Thames, both on the Kentish and Essex sides, where 

 these birds follow the numerous slioals of sprats, and are in 

 consequence called the Sprat lioon. They are frequently 

 caught in the nets. The term Loon, or Loom, appears to 

 be a modification of the Laplandcr''s name, Lumme, which is 

 said to mean lame, in reference to the bird''s hobbling mode 

 of progression on land. In Norway the name of Lumme 

 refers more particularly, almost exclusively, to the Black- 

 throated Diver; but M. Nilsson, in his Fauna of Scandi- 

 navia, calls all the three species by the name of Lorn, dis- 

 tinguishing the Red-throated Diver, on account of its com- 

 parative want of size, by the name of Sma Lorn. This 

 species is very commonly exposed for sale in the London 

 markets throughout the winter. The Rev. Richard Lubbock 

 sends me word that on the broads of Norfolk many arc seen, 



