RED-THROATED DIVER. 141 
in Hoy, on which island the nests used to be found; also in 
the Hebrides and Zetland. In Wales Mr. Dillwyn has recorded 
its occurrence. 
It appears to be common also m winter in Ireland, on all 
the north, east, and west coasts, and has been met with at 
Youghal], in the south. 
The proper home of this Diver in winter is the sea-board, 
but it not unfrequently advances to a considerable distance 
up rivers. It has thus been known to pass London ‘via’ the 
Thames; but I may, I think, take it for granted that the 
journey must have been made during the night. In summer 
they resort to inland waters, seeking for the quiet of such as 
are secluded. 
They come southwards in October and November, and 
return northwards early in March. 
As many as from twenty to twenty-five or thirty of these 
Divers, and all old ones, have been seen together in a flock. 
Most commonly, however, with us, small numbers or single 
birds are to be seen, ‘rari nantes in gurgite vasto.’ They 
appear not to be particularly shy. 
They fly with rapidity, with the neck stretched out, and 
often at a great height, in the night-time, and also in the 
day. On the land they are completely out of their element, 
being unable either to stand or walk. They appear to be 
not undisposed to take flight if pursued, but the other mode 
of escape is commonly adopted. They dive with all the quick- 
ness of the rest of their tribe, and can advance below the 
surface to a distance of eighty or ninety yards. 
They feed on sprats and other fish, frogs, and spawn, as 
also, it appears, on portions of plants. ‘He fishes alone, and 
when he is thus employed, and when the sea is running high, 
he invariably awaits the approach of the gigantic wave; and 
as it appears about to break upon him, he quietly makes his 
dive beneath it: having done this with the most graceful 
ease, he comes up again in a spot where the water is at the 
moment calm.’ 
Their note is a wild, loud, and melancholy wailing ery. 
Tt has been expressed by the syllables ‘kakera, kakera.’ When 
much given utterance to, it is considered to prognosticate 
rain, from which supposition one of the provincial names of 
the bird is derived. Meyer expresses the sound by the syllables 
‘ah’ or ‘ech.’ 
The situations chosen by this species for laying are by small 
