412 NATATORES. COLYMBUS. DIVER. 



female, but the supposed black one unfortunately escaped. 

 A minute examination, notwithstanding, of the old and young 

 of both species, can scarcely fail to convince any unpre- 

 judiced person of there being ground for a real specific dis- 

 tinction, as the difference in the form of their bills, their 

 relative size, and the disposition of their colours, are well 

 marked and sufficiently obvious. That both sexes of the 

 present species possess the black mark upon the throat, I 

 have had convincing proof, by the dissection of one of these 

 birds in the matured plumage, that was killed upon the 

 Tweed, and which was a female ; and I may also add, that 

 Red-throated Divers of both sexes are frequently taken. 

 Like the others, it is a native of the Arctic Regions of both 

 the new and ancient world, and during the summer is found 

 in very high latitudes ; Dr RICHARDSON says that it is com- 

 mon in Hudson's Bay, but is rarely seen upon the lakes in 

 the interior. Its equatorial or winter migration in Europe 

 extends as far as Switzerland, where it is sometimes seen upon 

 Nest, &c. the larger lakes. It breeds upon the brink of the water, and, 

 like the Northern Diver, lays but two eggs, which are stated 

 to be of a yellowish-brown, or isabella colour, blotched with 

 black. It dives with the same ease, and as perseveringly as 

 the other species, and can remain long submerged, making 

 very great progress during its submarine flight, as was ex- 

 perienced by Sir WILLIAM JARDINE and myself, when in 

 chace of this bird in a light and handy boat upon Loch Awe. 

 Our utmost exertion could never bring us within range, and 

 we were often foiled by its returning on its former track, and 

 re-appearing in a direction contrary to that in which it seemed 

 to have dived. During this pursuit it was frequently lost 

 for several minutes together, and came up nearly a quarter 

 of a mile a-head, and its progress could not, I should think, 

 have been much under the rate of eight miles in the hour. 

 Food. The Black- throated Diver lives upon fish, aquatic insects, 

 and such other food as it procures under water. Its skin is 

 highly prized by the Eskimaux and Indians for its warmth 



