THE RED-THROATED DIVER, 135 



They could never rise, however, from the nest, and, 

 unless on the verge of the water, could not escape 

 from their enemies. They seem to experience 

 much difficulty in lifting from a calm sea, even with 

 the aid of wings and feet, and the elasticity of the 

 water. Many other birds that walk, or rather crawl 

 on the breast, as, for example, the Shearwaters, 

 are equally helpless, if caught unawares, on level 

 ground. 



Red-throated Divers fly low, with outstretched 

 head and neck, and, having hardly any tail, give the 

 idea (when in the air) of a stick or bottle, with the 

 wings at the thicker end, and are then often mis- 

 taken for the larger species. Grebes present a very 

 similar aspect in their flight. The call of both the 

 Red and Black-throated Divers is loud and grating. 

 They seldom if ever cry except on the wing. Their 

 hoarse barking note is then most discordant, differ- 

 ing much from the shrill gurgling yell of the Great 

 Northern bird. The last once heard can never be 

 mistaken. Except, perhaps, Gannets and Cormo- 

 rants, no birds have greater powers of swallow ; the 

 mouth opens as far as the eye. The captive Diver 

 before referred to took down with ease the largest 

 mackerel. 



Whilst alluding to the swallowing powers of 

 sea-birds, I may relate that a gentleman, whom I 

 know well, informed me that he once killed a Great 

 Black-backed Gull, on the Kerry coast, which on 

 being shot disgorged a four-pound Mullet, with 

 which it had been seen previously engaged on the 

 beach. By picking and rending, the bird had 

 actually succeeded in taking it down whole. 



