THE DIVER. 453 



northern abodes, and have been met with, very unex- 

 pectedly, not far from the habitations of men. For 

 instance, a few years ago one was shot on Styperson 

 Pool, in Adlington, near Macclesfield : either from the 

 close and glossy texture of its feathers, or its agility in 

 diving, it was fired at nine times before it could be 

 secured, and at length received its death-wound from a 

 shot in the head. In the throat, which presented the 

 appearance of a bag appended to the gullet, were found 

 fourteen large perch, quite whole and fresh. Its voracity 

 was such, that even after it was evidently wounded, it 

 continued to bring up fish when diving, remaining at 

 each immersion several minutes under water, and mak- 

 ing its way beneath the surface from one end of the 

 pool to the other. Another of these birds was observed 

 for a considerable length of time on a large piece of 

 water at Westwood-park, near Worcester. The situa- 

 tion of this lake was very retired: no boat was upon it, 

 and scarcely any person allowed to approach. This 

 rare visitant seemed to excite as much alarm amongst 

 the other wild fowl on the lake, as surprise amongst 

 those who had the opportunity of seeing it; for, when- 

 ever the stranger approached, they hastened out of the 

 way, and at all times kept as far off as possible. K"o 

 attempt was made to capture it, as the owner of the 

 water would not allow it to be molested. Their extreme 

 shyness and timidity, though on the whole contributing 

 to their preservation, is, in some instances the cause of 

 their being taken. Thus, the Red-throated Diver, 

 another species near akin to the above, when met with 

 by the natives of the northern islands, flying, as they often 

 do, from one of the small inland lakes to another, are 

 so terrified by loud shouts, that they will frequently fall 

 down; and if they drop on the grass or heather, are 

 easily caught by hand, as from the awkward position of 

 their legs, which, though well suited for water, are by 

 no means adapted for land, they can neither walk nor 

 take wing again. 



