126 



THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



with a metallic green gloss, snowy breast, barred 

 neck, and with broad lozenge-shaped spots on the 

 back, about half an inch long. He is a prince 

 among Divers, riding with ease in the tumbling 

 waves, now and again vanishing for some moments, 

 to reappear with an eel, or other fish, athwart his 

 bill, which he speedily turns and catches head first, 

 then swallows with a toss of the head and neck. 



THE GREAT NORTHERN DIVER.* 



His cry is weird and guttural, a demoniacal laugh, 

 as it were, resounding o'er the deep. His powers 

 of remaining under water are marvellous. When 

 fishing, it may be less than a minute ; when suspi- 

 cious, he will rise at intervals of from three to five 

 minutes to take a good look round. When once 



* From a sketch by Mr. John Gatcombe. The adult male is in 

 summer, the immature female in winter, plumage. When both are in 

 the adult plumage, they are (like geese) externally indistinguishable. 



