168 BRITISH BIRDS WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



its legs, has been known to tow a light boat for many minutes. A swift and 

 powerful swimmer, it is very difficult to overtake in a boat, and can proceed even 

 faster when beneath the surface. It rises from the water with difficulty, splashing 

 along the water for some distance ; but when once on the wing it flies straight 

 and fast with rapidly beating wings, and neck and feet outstretched. Saxby states 

 that it has been seen on the wing at all seasons, but, so far as he had observed, 

 very rarely at any other than spring. He had seen it on the wing in November ; 

 in that month I saw a large grey Diver, apparently, from its large size, of this 

 species, flying low over the sea against wind, parallel to the shore, on the coast 

 of Norfolk. 



In the breeding season the Northern Diver frequents inland fresh- water lakes, 

 and prefers to nest upon an island. The nest is usually close to, or at no great 

 distance from, the water, and the bird treads down or flattens with its body for 

 Divers appear to slide along the ground after the manner of a seal a track from 

 the nest to the water. In some cases a flattened nest of plants is formed, in 

 others the eggs are deposited on the bare ground. The eggs are two in number. 

 But it is mentioned in " Yarrell " that Audubon says that in North America three 

 are more frequently deposited, and Mr. W. Raine states that occasionally three 

 have been found in a nest. The eggs are dark brown, varying from an olive to 

 a warmer tint or chocolate-brown, and sparingly spotted with dark, or blackish- 

 brown, or black. They are narrow in proportion to their length, and measure 

 about 3'6o inches in length and about 2'3O in breadth. 



The Great Northern Divers cries have been described as loud and melancholy 

 in tone. According to Saxby, its usual note bears considerable resemblance 

 to the barking of a small dog ; but upon a calm summer evening he has heard 

 it utter a long-drawn plaintive cry, so strangely unlike any other known to him 

 that he could not attempt to describe it. Mr. Dresser writes : " At night, when 

 camping on the shores of the lake, their weird wailing cry sounded clear and loud 

 over the water ; and though to us, who were used to it, the sound was by no 

 means so disagreeable, I have known strangers, especially townsmen, who stayed 

 in our camp for the fishing, to be kept awake most of the night by it ; and one 

 gentleman in particular used to compare it to a lot of demons let loose torturing 

 children" (Birds of Europe"). 



The question of the ability or inability of Divers to assume the upright 

 posture on land, in which they have sometimes been depicted, seems to be now 

 settled ; and it is stated that the formation of the legs and feet of these birds 

 renders such a posture impossible. But Divers can sit nearly upright on the water 

 to flap their wings. 



