198 GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 



all the water-courses of the United States. I hare 

 seen it along the whole of our Atlantic coast, from 

 Maine to the extremity of Florida, and from thence 

 to the mouths of the Mississippi and the shores 

 of Texas." It breeds in many parts of the United 

 States, and was also found in Labrador, where u it 

 lays fully a month later." 



In the plumage of the first year, when the bird is 

 known as Colymlus immer^ the whole under surface 

 is pure white, shading upwards on the head and 

 neck to greyish brown or clove-brown ; the back and 

 wings a very dark similar tint, each feather broadly 

 margined with grey ; the bill pale, except along the 

 culmen ; the inside of the tarsi and toes of a much 

 lighter colour. In another specimen further ad- 

 vanced, we have the under parts still pure, all the 

 upper plumage darker, and advancing further on the 

 neck and breast, sparingly intermingled with the 

 black and white spotted nuptial plumes, particu- 

 larly on the wings ; tail tipped with white ; bill 

 slightly darker than the last. In a third specimen, 

 where we are inclined to believe that the perfect 

 plumage is going off, we have the head and neck 

 dark, clouded with grey above, and very much 

 mixed with white on the chin and throat, the stria- 

 ted collar distinctly apparent; the under surface 

 pure white, the upper with a large proportion of 

 the distinct white marking, but intermixed, particu- 

 larly along the middle line of the back, with appa- 

 rently new dark feathers, having grey margins as iu 

 the young. 



