GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, OR LOON. 259 



In the account which some of the European orni- 

 thologists give of their northern diver, we presume 

 there is an inaccuracy. They say it measures three 

 feet six inches in length, and four feet eight in breadth, 

 and weighs sixteen pounds. If this be a correct state- 

 ment, it would lead to the surmise that our diver is a 

 different species ; for of several specimens which Ave 

 examined, the best and largest has been described 

 for this work, the admeasurement of which bird comes 

 considerably short of that of the European mentioned 

 above. The weight, as has been stated, was eight 

 pounds and a half. 



According to Temminck, the adult male and female 

 are alike in plumage. All the females which have 

 passed under my examination differed from the old 

 males ; and it is the universal opinion among our 

 sportsmen who reside on the coast, where the loons are 

 common, that the adults of both sexes may always be 

 distinguished by their garb. However, in confirmation 

 of Temminck's opinion, I can adduce the authority of 

 the Prince of Musignano, Charles Lucian Bonaparte, 

 who has informed me, that he has in his collection a 

 female which was shot in the Delaware, and which differs 

 in no respect from the adult male. 



On a re-examination of the Supplement to the 

 Ornithological Dictionary of Montagu, I find upon this 

 subject the following remarks, which should seem to 

 put the question at rest respecting the identity of the 

 European and American species: " It should appear 

 that the size of this species has been commonly exag- 

 gerated, or they must vary very materially, since those 

 which have come under our examination did not exceed 

 ten pounds ; and an old or matured male measured only 

 two feet eight inches. A young female, before the 

 plumage was perfected, weighed eight pounds six ounces, 

 and measured two feet seven inches in length. 



" A northern diver, taken alive, was kept in a pond 

 for some months, which gave us an opportunity of 

 attending to its manners. In a few days it became 

 extremely docile, would come at the call from one side 



