400 THE DIVER. 



from observation during the breeding season, that, in the 

 Orkneys, and other northern islands which they frequent, the 

 inhabitants really believe that they make no nests at all, but, 

 never leaving the sea, hatch their eggs under water, in a hole 

 beneath the wing, prepared by nature for that purpose— a 

 belief, no doubt, encouraged by their being seen, like our 

 Crested Grebes, taking their young upon their backs for 

 protection. 



Rare as these birds are, they sometimes, either by choice or 

 stress of weather, wander from their dreary northern abodes, 

 and have been met with, very unexpectedly, 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 making 

 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 situation 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 persons 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. No 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 



