410 COLYMBUS ARCTICUS. 
from the water’s edge, lying head and foot together. Close to them 
and rather overhanging is a bit of willow. No nest, but a little of 
the dry thin ribband-like grass pressed down. After rowing after 
the birds, which are seen near, fishing a bit, I lie in wait. They 
come close together round a corner within shot, but see me as I move 
my gun, and gradually sink themselves in the water, till their beak 
disappears. There are no weeds near. They come up and remain at 
from eighty to one hundred yards’ distance, as in the case of the bird 
at Loch Shin [§ 4972]. They frequently put their head under water, 
a kind of symptom of anxiety I supposed. I have observed this 
habit in others and it is mentioned by Yarrell [Brit. Birds, iii. 
p- 831]. I draw my charge and put in a bullet, but nearly break 
my ramrod in forcing it home, for the gun is much “leaded.” With 
a steady aim [resting] on a grassy stone, the two birds being close 
together, I fire. I fancy that both disappear. One, however, is lying 
on the water. I put in another bullet, and presently send it within 
an inch or so of the head of the survivor, which does not dive for a 
second after. It then comes up far away. On picking up my bird 
it is found to be shot through the back of the head, and a great 
beauty it is, but I regret its fate. The captain says with a grimace 
«« What will the keeper say ?”? I shewed him my paper [permission 
to shoot]. The bird’s skin is preserving for me at Newcastle. 
Next day I walk with John Sutherland to a loch over the ‘hill in 
which last year were a pair of Divers which reared a young one un- 
disturbed. A small island in the loch, but a shepherd’s lad told me 
he had once found the eggs on the shore of the mainland there. In 
it I see Otter’s dung. 
§ 4974. Zwo.—Loch Urigil, Sutherland, 19 May, 1849. 
“ Bird shot. J. W.” 
We drag the landlord’s boat [from Altnagallagagh | over to Loch 
Urigil. In a little island with hummocks is a Black-throated Diver’s 
nest, two feet from the water’s edge. A little grass and mayblobs 
[Caltha palustris] gathered into it. The eggs very pale, one 
scarcely spotted. John Sutherland found them almost before the 
boat touched the land. He proposes to lie in wait, which I then ° 
volunteer to do, with his gun. After a little time the Divers were 
driven to the windward side of me, and I get ashot atone. The bird 
turns and floats to me, apparently quite dead. I see it to within a 
