394 



A JOURNEY TO THE 



Northern 

 Divers. 



Black- 

 throated 

 Divers. 



coverets of the wings are marked with white. They are in 

 weight equal to a Widgeon, [429] though to appearance not 

 so large. They usually make their nests in the holes of 

 rocks, and lay two white eggs, which are delicate eating, 

 but not proportionably large for the size of the bird. My 

 friend Mr. Pennant says, they brave the coldest Winters in 

 those parts, by keeping at the edge of the ice near the open 

 water ; but as the sea at that season is frozen over for several 

 miles from the shore, I believe no one's curiosity ever tempted 

 him to confirm the truth of this ; and it is well known they 

 never make their appearance near the land after the frost 

 becomes severe. 



Northern Divers.^ These birds, though common in 

 Hudson's Bay, are by no means plentiful ; they are seldom 

 found near the sea coast, but more frequently in fresh water 

 lakes, and usually in pairs. They build their nests at the 

 edge of small islands, or the margins of lakes or ponds ; they 

 lay only two eggs, and it is very common to find only one 

 pair and their young in one sheet of water ; a great proof ot 

 their aversion to society. They are known in Hudson's Bay 

 by the name of Loons. They differ in species from the 

 Black and Red throated Divers, having a large black bill 

 near four inches long ; plumage on the back of a glossy 

 black, elegantly barred with white ; the belly of a silver 

 white ; and they are so large as at times to weigh fifteen or 

 sixteen pounds. Their flesh is always black, hard, and fishy, 

 yet it is generally eaten by the Indians. 



[430] Black-throated Divers.^ This species are more 



[^ Gavia immer (Briinn.). This is perhaps the least abundant of the Loons 

 found on Hudson Bay, though common in the lakes of the interior.] 



[^ Gavia adamsi (Gray). Hearne's statement that the bird has a white bill 

 shows that he refers to the present species, though a Black-throated Loon, Gavia 

 pacifica (Lawrence), is common there. Perhaps he confuses the two. At any 

 rate, G. adanisi is abundant over much of the country traversed by him on his 

 Coppermine journey, but I am not aware that it has been detected as far east 

 as Hudson Bay.] 



