34 BIRD GALLERY. 



and subsequently brought to the surface and swallowed. The nest, a 

 hollow in the ground with little or no lining, is generally situated close 

 to the water's edge, either on a grass-grown island or (as in the present 

 instance) on the mainland. Two large olive-brown eggs ; spotted with 

 black, are laid in May. 



Sutherlandshire, June. 



Presented by Colonel L. H. Irby fy Captain S. G. Reid. 



No. 90. RED-THROATED DIVER. 



(Colymbus septentrionalis.) 



Though adults with the white throat characteristic of winter plumage 

 are commonly met with on all our coasts from autumn to spring, the 

 " Rain- Goose/' as it is often called, is only known to breed, as regards the 

 British Islands, in the north of Ireland and in parts of Scotland and the 

 adjacent islands. The plumage of the sexes is similar, but the female 

 is somewhat smaller than the male. When nesting, this species, unlike 

 the Black-throated Diver, prefers the small lochs and pools, and is 

 seldom found on the larger lochs, except when in search of fish, on which 

 it chiefly feeds. Little or no nest is made, and the two large olive-brown 

 eggs, spotted with dark brown, are placed on the bare and often wet 

 ground close to the water's edge. The male shares the duties of 

 incubation. 



Sutherlandshire, May. 



Presented by G. A. St. Quintin fif W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Esqrs. 



No. 91. WATER-RAIL. (Rallus aquaticus.) 



This species may be regarded as a resident in the marshy districts 

 of the British Islands, for though some of our native birds move south- 

 ward in autumn, their place is taken by others from the Continent. 

 Worms, molluscs, and aquatic plants form its principal food. The 

 nest, made of flat leaves of reeds and sedges, is well concealed among 

 rushes or coarse herbage. The eggs, from seven to eleven in number, 

 are pale creamy-white spotted with reddish-brown and ash-grey. The 

 young, when first hatched, are covered with black down. Two broods 

 are produced in a season. 



Co. Waterford, April. 

 Presented by R. J. Ussher, Esq. 



No. 92. LAND-RAIL or CORN-CRAKE. (Crex crex.) 



This well-known visitor arrives in the south of England about the 

 end of April and, as a rule, takes its departure before the end of 







