136 ELACK-THROATED DITER. 



timber! and; another off Cullercoats on the 5th. of Fehruarv, 

 1848; in 1S30, a fine mature specimen was killed at Tweed- 

 mouth, and several young ones along the shore and upon the 

 Itiver Tyne: others on the Durham coast. 



It has occasionally occurred on Frensham Pond, near 

 Godalming, Surrey. In Cornwall it is very rare; one was 

 shot on Carrack road, in January, 1816; others at other 

 times: so also in Devonshire. Young birds are occasionally 

 obtainable in the London markets. A very beautiful specimen, 

 a male, was procured on the 2nd. of June, 1842, in Sandwich 

 Haven, in the county of Kent. In Oxfordshire, a young bird 

 of this species was shot near Cassington, in the winter of 

 1828. 



In Scotland, this Diver occurs from north to south, but 

 least numerously in the latter. Sir "William Jardine has seen 

 three or four in a day on the Frith of Forth. A few still 

 breed on some of the lakes of Sutherlandshire — Loch Assynt, 

 Loch Shin, Loch Laighall, Loch Awe, and elsewhere. 



In Orkney some remain throughout the year; a few have 

 been shot of late at South Eonaldshay, Scapa, Kirkwall, 

 Sanday, etc. So also in the Hebrides: North Uist is a 

 breeding-place. The species is a winter visitant to Ion a. 



In Ireland it is very rare; the county of Dublin has fur- 

 nished a specimen, and it has also occurred in the north. 



As soon as the ice begins to break up in the spring, within 

 twelve hours, it is said, of open water being seen, they betake 

 themselves to secluded inland lakes, to make their nests in 

 due time, but thence return again to the sea when they have 

 young ones able to aecompanj'^ them; — 'Ver non semper viret.' 



They are very shy and wary birds, and though unwilling 

 to take wing, dive on the most distant appearance of danger. 

 They can, however, fly strongly and well, and in the summer, 

 when they have young, may be seen at a vast height bringing 

 fish from some other lake to their nest. They descend very 

 suddenly, and in a slanting direction. They are extremely 

 attentive to the wants of their younj-. 



The skin of this bird is highly valued by the Esquimaux 

 for its warmth and beauty, and is accordingly converted into 

 articles of wearing. 



The Black-throated Diver swims and dives with infinite 

 dexterity, and has also considerable powers of fiight available 

 on occasion, both as regards quickness and the distance of 

 progression: the wings are widely extended and rapidly beaten. 



