DIVERS. 407 



One of these birds will frequently make its way under water for a hundred 

 or a hundred and fifty yards without rising for respiration ; and when it comes 

 up to breathe, a moment's exposure of the head and bill is sufficient for the 

 purpose. In swimming, its body is deeply immersed, owing to its weight and 

 flatness, a position which allows this bird to dive with little apparent exertion, 

 the mere depression of its head, and a slight propulsive effort with the feet, 

 being sufficient to enable it to plunge into the sea. From the backward position 

 of its legs, it cannot walk ; its only mode of progression, therefore, when on 

 land, is that of shoving itself forward by lying on its breast and striking the 

 ground with its feet. The northern diver rarely flies, as it rises with difficulty 

 from the surface of the water; but when once upon the wing, its flight is swift, 

 and frequently in a circle round those who intrude upon its haunts. Its cries 

 have been compared to those of a man in distress, but it also utters occasion- 

 ally a low hoarse croak. Its plumage is close, and the skin tough, on which 

 account it is much used by the natives of northern countries in the manu- 

 facture of comfortable articles of clothing. The flesh is hard and of a rank, 

 fishy flavour. 



" Perhaps," says the Rev. Mr. Wood, " there is no bird which excels the 

 northern diver in its subaqueous powers, although the penguins and the cormo- 

 rants are equally notable in this respect. Its broad-webbed feet are set so very 

 far back that it cannot walk properly, but tumbles and scrambles along much 

 after the fashion of a seal, pushing itself with its feet, and scraping its breast on 

 the ground. In the water, however, it is quite at its ease ; and, like the seal, no 

 sooner reaches the familiar element, than it dives away at full speed, twisting 

 and turning under the surface as if in the exuberance of happy spirits. So 

 swiftly can it glide through the water, that it can chase and capture the agile 

 fishes in their own element, thus exhibiting another very curious link in the 

 interchanging capacities of various beings ; the bats, for example, surpassing 

 many birds in airy flight, the cursorial birds running faster than most quad- 

 rupeds, the seals and others equalling the fishes in their own watery domain, 

 and some of the fishes, again, being able to pass for a considerable distance 

 through the air." 



Two other divers belong to the British islands ; namely — 



The Black-throated Diver {Colymbus arcticus), recognizable by the 

 bold alternate bars of black and white which decorate the back and tertials ; 



and 



The Red-throated Diver {Colymhis sepfentriojialis), known by its 

 smaller size and red throat. On account of the havoc made by this last 

 species among the shoals of sprats, it is sometimes called the " Sprat-Loon," 

 When diving, these birds disappear beneath the surface with astonishing velcK 

 city, and apparently without the slightest effort, steering their course through 

 the waves with arrow-like speed, either to the right or left, or upward or down- 

 ward, many fathoms deep, overtaking and seizing the swiftest fishes ; they will 

 even remain under water for eight minutes at a time. Under these circum- 

 stances it is not to be wondered at that they rarely approach the shore. 



