232 GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 



the common surface; below this a broad band of dark glossy 

 green and violet, which is blende'd behind with the plumage of 

 the back; the lower part of the neck, and the sides of the breast, 

 are ribbed in the same manner as the band above; below the 

 chin a few stripes of the same; the whole of the upper parts are 

 of a deep black, slightly glossed with green, and thickly spot- 

 ted with white, in regular transverse or semicircular rows, two 

 spots on the end of each feather those on the upper part of 

 the back, shoulders, rump and tail-coverts, small and roundish, 

 those on the centre of the back, square and larger, those on the 

 scapulars are the largest, and of an oblong square shape; the 

 wing feathers and tail are plain brown black, the latter com- 

 posed of twenty feathers; the lower parts are pure white, a slight 

 dusky line across the vent; the scapulars descend over the wing, 

 when closed, and the belly feathers ascend so as to meet them, 

 by which means every part of the wing is concealed, except 

 towards the tip; the outside of the legs and feet is black, inside 

 lead colour; the leg is four inches in length, and the foot mea- 

 sures, along the exterior toe to the tip of its claw, four inches 

 and three-quarters; both legs and feet are marked with five-si- 

 ded polygons. Weight of the specimen described eight pounds 

 and a half. 



The adult male and female are alike in plumage. 



The young do not appear to obtain their perfect plumage un- 

 til the second or third year. One which I saw, and which was 

 conjectured to be a yearling, had its upper parts of a brown or 

 mouse colour; a few spots on the back and scapulars; but none 

 of those markings on the neck, which distinguish the full-grown 

 male. Another had the whole upper parts of a pale brown; the 

 plumage of part of the back and scapulars tipped with pale ash; 

 the lower parts white, with a yellowish tinge; no bands on the 

 neck, nor spots on the body. 



The conformation of the ribs and bones of this species is re- 

 markable, and merits particular examination. 



In the account which some of the European ornithologists give 

 of their Northern Diver, we presume there is an inaccuracy. 



