132 GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, 
be seen floating and drifting on the water as if asleep, the 
head pillowed back among the feathers. In the roughest 
weather they are equally at ease, and fish among the heavy 
surf with fearless’ confidence. They cannot walk, properly 
speaking, but are only able to shuffle along, neither can 
they rise on the wing from the ground. Even on the water 
they are obliged to scurry forwards for some distance before 
being able to get up. ‘This is ‘accompanied by a frequent 
repetition of its call-note. When a party of six or eight 
of these birds rise together, they mount high in the air, and 
follow one another in a line.’ 
They fly in a strong and able manner, and Dr. Richardson 
observes that when on the wing they advance swiftly. If 
their nest be threatened, they exhibit natural alarm, and 
wheel in circles round the intruder. 
They feed on small crabs and crustacea generally, frogs, 
insects and their larve, flat-fishes, herrings, sprats, and other 
kinds of fish. The smaller ones they gorge whole, the larger 
they are obliged to swallow piecemeal. They destroy, as will 
readily be conceived, a great quantity, so that where they 
are sojourners, their absence rather than their presence is 
desiderated by the fishermen. In stormy weather they suffer 
much from want of food, their prey having probably removed 
into deeper water. 
The note, which is loud and plaintive, is said by Meyer to 
resemble the words ‘who, who,’ or ‘whee, whee,’ frequently 
repeated. Other sounds are also uttered, both of a deep and 
a high character. 
The nest of this fine bird is placed close to the water’s 
edge, so as to admit of an immediate retreat, if necessary, to 
that element. 
The eggs are two, or sometimes, according to Audubon, 
three in number. Their colour is a dark olive greenish brown, 
with a few spots of a darker shade, or purple reddish. 
Both birds take their turns in sitting, and when the young 
are hatched, continue an equal and watchful care over them 
as Hane as it is required. 
Male; weight, twelve pounds, or as much as Paani lencth, 
two feet six to two feet nine inches; bill, black, the tip paler. 
1% is ‘nearly three inches long one compressed, tapering, 
the upper mandible gently arched, the lower one channeled 
beneath, and deepest m the middle, the angle sloping gradually 
upwards to the point.’ Iris, red. Head, crown, neck, nape, 
