THE BLACK-THROATED DIVER 355 



back is dark brown speckled with white ; the bill 

 is short, pointed, yet strong, and slightly curved 

 upwards. 



The black-throated diver is rarely seen south 

 of Scotland, where it breeds in one or two 

 localities, except during the winter, when from 

 time to time a few birds may stray southwards. 

 It can hardly be called rare, though it is decidedly 

 uncommon. It is a singularly handsome bird. In 

 summer the crown and hinder part of the neck are 

 ash-coloured ; the chin and throat of a purple- 

 black ; the sides of the neck striped with black 

 and white ; the back is black barred with white ; 

 the wings blackish-gray spotted with white ; the 

 under parts white ; the bill black ; the legs and 

 feet brown ; the irides red. In length it measures 

 from twenty-five to twenty-six inches. 



The white-billed Northern diver is too scarce 

 a bird to claim our attention. 



Of the five British o-rebes, but two are resident- 



o 



The grebes are distinguished by possessing no 

 tails, and by their feet being lobed. The follow- 

 ing is the list of those which are entitled to rank 

 as British birds : 



1. The great crested grebe. 



2. The red-necked grebe. 



3. The lesser crested grebe. 



4. The eared grebe. 



5. The dabchick, or little grebe. 



The great crested grebe and the dabchick are 

 the only two which are resident ; the remainder 



