96 



Amono- the Birds in Northern Shires. 



they are never completely ice-bound in our islands, 

 and furnish an abundance of food all the year round. 

 Among the most characteristic of the birds of these 

 hill lochs we may mention the Divers. Of these 

 there are two species that breed near them, one of 



I. The Red-breasted Merganser. 



2. The Black-throated Diver. 



them, however, the Red-throated Diver, being much 

 commoner than the other, the Black-throated Diver. 

 These birds are more or less migratory, and are only 

 to be found upon fresh-water lochs during summer. 

 In winter they retire to the coasts, where the open 

 sea ensures a constant food supply, and then wander 

 far south of their breeding area. Possibly there 

 are few other districts in the world more depressing 



