68 THE BIRDS OF BERKS AND BUCKS. 



and we could examine the bottom of the spring 

 almost as thoroughly as if it contained air only, we 

 could but conclude that our apparition had taken 

 refuge in a hole under the bank.'* 



These little birds are sometimes taken alive in 

 fishing nets ; I have seen several that have been so 

 captured in small streams near Windsor. Those who 

 are unacquainted with these small divers in the 

 wild state, would do well to visit the Zoological 

 Gardens in the Regent's Park, where there are 

 always several of this species continually diving for 

 minnows and other small fry which are placed alive 

 for them in their pool. 



In Mr. F. R. Buckland's interesting and popu- 

 lar work, 'The Curiosities of Natural History,' it 

 is stated that Mr. Quekett, while fishing one day at 

 Great Marlow, saw one of the birds in question floun- 

 dering about as if something was wrong with it. 

 Having secured it, the verdict returned after a post- 

 mortem examination, was, ' Deceased met his death 

 by being choked by a miller's-thumb in his throat.' 



* ' British Birds in their Haunts,' by the Rev. C. A. Johns, pp. 



534. 535- 



' (Dn £6crtT irouglj ibc bhbis bcib | sbg 

 WS.i\ boia of augcU in ibxr l^iumonte, 

 (ir^at irwsbi) l^em tijtr birbis fortbe io lirgug.' 



Chaucer. 



