438 COLYMBIDJ1. 



that it is to be found in the sounds and bays of Orkney at 

 all seasons, but Mr. Dunn who has visited both Orkney 

 and Shetland several times lately, considers it now to be a 

 rare bird at both places. 



M. Nilsson says this species is common in Sweden in 

 summer, breeding among grass and reeds on the margins 

 of islands in lakes ; leaving those places for the open sea 

 in winter. Mr. Hewitson and his friends saw the Black- 

 throated Diver occasionally in the fiords on the west coast 

 of Norway. Richard Dann, Esq. sent me the following 

 note : " This beautiful Diver is widely and numerously 

 dispersed over the whole of Scandinavia during the summer 

 months, but it is most abundant in the northern parts. It 

 breeds generally in the interior of the country on small 

 islands, in the most secluded and retired lakes. In Lap- 

 land and in the Dofre Fiell mountains, it is found as high 

 as the birch-tree grows. It makes its first appearance in the 

 spring with the breaking up of the ice on the lakes. With- 

 in twelve hours of open water being seen, this bird never 

 fails to show itself. The eggs are generally two in number. 

 They are of a very rank fishy taste, but much sought after 

 by the Laps. After the young are hatched both male and 

 female are very assiduous in bringing them food, and at 

 that period are much on the wing, and may be seen flying 

 at a vast height, with fish in their beaks, from one lake to 

 another ; on arriving over the lake where they intend to 

 alight, they descend very suddenly in an oblique direction. 

 The cries of this Diver are very peculiar during the breed- 

 ing season, and may be heard at a great distance. This 

 bird is very quick-sighted and difficult to approach, it 

 takes wing with great reluctance, but dives incessantly, 

 taking care to come up far out of shot. On the approach 

 of winter the old birds retire to the west coast of Norway. 

 They make their appearance in the southern parts but 



