490 THE RED-THROATED DIVER. 



to four days after they are hatched, one of them is always 

 found dead in the nest. It would appear as if both parents 

 now transferred all their affections to the surviving chick. They 

 seldom leave it to itself, and if allowed to follow them, one or 

 the other takes it upon the back, and thus swims and dives 

 with it without its falling off. The old bird also adopts this 

 method during storms to transport it across great bays and 

 inlets ; and it is really wonderful to see it, even when of the 

 size of a full-grown Garganey duck, sitting perfectly at ease on 

 the mother's back, and without her seeming in any manner 

 weary of the burden. Hence it may be inferred that instinct 

 convinces the parents of their inability to rear two young 

 ones, and they therefore find themselves compelled to destroy 

 one, that the other may be duly cared for." 



In Lapland, where this bird is frequently captured in steel- 

 traps, the flesh is eaten by the inhabitants. The skin, drawn 

 off whole, with the down on, is used for the purpose of lining 

 caps, and is considered preferable even to that of the swan. 



The Red-throated Diver (Smd-Lom, or Little-Lorn, Sw. ; 

 C. septentrionaliSy Linn.) was common in the vicinity of 

 Ronnum, and in the neighbouring Skargard, where many 

 bred. It is also common almost everywhere throughout the 

 length and breadth of Scandinavia, both in the interior and 

 on the coast, where it for the most part nests. On the 

 shores of Denmark it is described as common during the 

 winter time. 



In Finmark this bird, in consequence of its harsh and dis- 

 agreeable cry, is called in derision, ' Lofodden's nightingale ;' 

 and when its kakerd, kakerd, is heard high in the air, the 

 fishermen predict fine weather. 



" The act of pairing with the red-throated diver," says M. 



