164 BRITISH (SEABIRDS: 
touching the surface. In winter these Divers are 
by no means shy, and I have many times watched 
them pursuing their fishing operations, from my 
station on the cliffs. 
In May, the Red-throated Diver retires to its 
breeding stations—the wild romantic lochs and 
pools so characteristic a feature of the Highlands 
and the Hebrides. Solitary pairs generally scatter 
themselves over a district, resenting intrusion, and 
keeping to their own particular haunt. This Diver 
probably pairs for life, returning each successive 
season to a ceftain spot to nest, “An island 
usually selected for the nest, which is invariably 
made upon the ground, and consists generally of 
little more than a hollow, into which is collected a 
few bits of withered vegetation. As may be 
expected, this nest is seldom made far from the 
water, so that at the least alarm the sitting bird can 
slip off and shuffle into the water at once. The 
two narrow elongated eggs are olive- or buffish- 
brown, spotted and speckled with blackish-brown 
and paler brown. 
GREBES. 
In many respects Grebes are remarkable birds. 
They form so well defined a group that no other 
known bird can possibly be confused with them, 
their characteristics being absolutely unique among 
the class Aves. The most noticeable external 
features of a Grebe are its relatively short body, 
laterally compressed tarsi, lobed feet, rudimentary 
PE 
- 
