540 COLYMBIM. 



under his notice one only had a red throat, and this was 

 captured under singular circumstances. On the 24th April, 

 1839, some fishermen observed an object floating which 

 they imagined was a keg of spirits, but which proved to 

 be a large fish of the kind known as the Fishing Frog, or 

 Angler. On hauling it on board with their boat-hooks, 

 the fishermen discovered that the animal had nearly 

 choked himself by swallowing, tail foremost, an adult 

 Red-throated Diver. The head of the bird protruded 

 from the throat into the mouth of the captor, and, strange 

 to say, it had not only survived its imprisonment, but was 

 unhurt. It was extricated and presented to the Zoological 

 Gardens, where it lived for six months. Another writer 

 in the same magazine* says that he saw a large number in 

 Norway during the breeding season, but not one without 

 the dark red throat. 



This species, like the rest of the genus, obtains its food 

 by diving ; when pursued it rarely tries to escape by 

 taking wing, though it has the power of flying with great 

 rapidity. During the breeding season especially, it often 

 flies about over the water with its long neck outstretched, 

 and uttering a wailing scream. 



I am informed by a friend, that while fishing in a boat 

 in calm water off the coast of North Devon, he has many 

 times seen Divers pass through the water, at a considerable 

 depth below, propelling themselves by a free and active 

 useof their wings. 



From October to May only these Divers frequent our 

 coast. Towards the end of spring they withdraw north- 

 wards and build their nests, of coarse grass and other 

 herbs, close to the edge of a fresh- water loch. They lay 

 two eggs, and the male is said to take his turn in the office 

 of incubation. Many stay to breed in the Orkneys and 

 Outer Hebrides. 



* Zoologist, vol. ix. p. 3084. 



