43 



dexterity it is very difficult to be shot. From 

 the middle of spring to the end of May it is 

 common along our northern coasts, and from 

 October to spring young birds especially are 

 met with from one end of the island to the 

 other. In summer it betakes itself to the Arctic 

 regions. In its adult state it is rare on some parts of 

 the Continent. The nest, which it builds at pairing 

 time, is large and rude in construction. The eggs 

 generally are three in number, of a form considera- 

 bly elongated, three inches and three quarters in 

 length, two inches and a quarter in breadth. In 

 colour they are of a dull yellowish green, spotted 

 with dusky brown. The flesh of the Diver is dark 

 and unsavoury, and the skin is sometimes used as 

 material for caps, &c. 



DIVEK, BLACK-THROATED. 



LESSER IMBER. 



COLYMBUS ABCTICUS, Lin. 



Of the three species known in this country the 

 Black-throated Diver is the most rare, occur- 

 ring in the adult state but seldom, though young 

 birds are not uncommon. The habits of this 

 species closely resemble those of the Great North- 

 ern Diver. It is generally dispersed over the north 



