132 GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 



be seen floating and drifting on the water as if asleep, the 

 head pillowed back among the feathers. In the roughest 

 weather they are equally at ease, and fish among the heavy 

 surf with fearless confidence. They cannot walk, properly 

 speaking, but are only able to shuffle along, neither can 

 they rise on the wing from the ground. Even on the water 

 they are obliged to scurry forwards for some distance before 

 being able to get up. This is 'accompanied by a frequent 

 repetition of its call-note. When a party of six or eight 

 of these birds rise together, they mount high in the air, and 

 follow one another in a line.' 



They fly in a strong and able manner, and Dr. Richardson 

 observes that when on the wing they advance swiftly. If 

 their nest be threatened, they exhibit natural alarm, and 

 wheel in circles round the intruder. 



They feed on small crabs and Crustacea generally, frogs, 

 insects and their larvae, flat-fishes, herrings, sprats, and other 

 kinds of fish. The smaller ones they gorge whole, the Larger 

 they are obliged to swallow piecemeal. They destroy, as will 

 readily be conceived, a great quantity, so that where they 

 are sojourners, their absence rather than their presence is 

 desiderated by the fishermen. In stormy weather they suffer 

 much from want of food, their prey having probably removed 

 into deeper water. 



The note, which is loud and plaintive, is said by Meyer to 

 resemble the words 'who, who,' or Svhee, whee,' frequently 

 repeated. Other sounds are also uttered, both of a deep and 

 a high character. 



The nest of this fine bird is placed close to the water's 

 edge, so as to admit of an immediate retreat, if necessary, to 

 that element. 



The eggs are two, or sometimes, according to Audubon, 

 three in number. Their colour is a dark olive greenish brown, 

 with a few spots of a darker shade, or purple reddish. 



Both birds take their turns in sitting, and when the young 

 are hatched, continue an equal and watchful care over them 

 as long as it is required. 



Male; weight, twelve pounds, or as much as fourteen; length, 

 two feet six to two feet nine inches; bill, black, the tip paler. 

 It is 'nearly three inches long, much compressed, tapering, 

 the upper mandible gently arched, the lower one channeled 

 beneath, and deepest in the middle, the angle sloping gradually 

 upwards to the point.' Iris, red. Head, crown, neck, nape, 



