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the third year. Doctor De Kay found this species breeding in the 

 Racket Lake. It makes its nest of a coarse material, in which it 

 deposits two eggs, of a dark brown color, blotched with black. 



It subsists chiefly on fish — is an excellent diver — and when 

 alarmed, eludes pursuit by passing swiftly to a considerable distance 

 under the water. The habits of the Northern Diver are strictly 

 aquatic. I have never observed it on shore, and from the position 

 of its legs, which are placed so very far behind the centre of the 

 body, if it can walk at all, its progression must be with an exceed- 

 ingly awkward gait. In its appropriate element, it is not surpassed 

 by any of its tribe. Its flight is rapid, and at times, when passing 

 over the land, is performed at a great height. In stormy weather, 

 it sometimes takes shelter in the coves and creeks, and occasional- 

 ly roosts on the mill ponds. 



COLYMBUS SEPTENTRIONALIS— LINN. 



RED-THROATED DIVER. 



Colymbus septentrionalis, Bonapart. 



Red-throated, Diver, Colymbus septentrionalis, Sw. & Rich. 



Red-throated Diver, Nuttall. 



Red-tliroated Diver, Colymbus septentrionalis, Audubon. 



Specific Character — Bill black, slender, point acute, from the 

 corner of the mouth to the end three inches ; length of tarsi two 

 inches and three eighths ; neck rather slender ; forehead low. 

 Adult with the bill black ; throat, sides of the head and neck 

 mouse-color ; a broad band of reddish-brown commencing at the 

 lower part of the throat, extending about three inches on the fore 

 neck; lower parts white, with a band of dusky crossing the vent j 

 under tail-coverts dusky, tipped with white ; tail and upper tail- 

 coverts same color ; upper parts dark brown, spotted with white — 

 the spots more numerous and larger on the sides of the body and 

 fore part of the back ; nape streaked with white and greenish 

 black ; crown spotted with dusky. Length twenty-three inches 

 and a half, wing eleven inches. Young, in winter, with the fore 

 part of the neck white, or slightly mottled with red. 



This species is another of those hardy sea-birds like the preced- 

 jng whose habits it resembles ; is common to both continents, and 



