BED-TIIEOATED DIVEE. 141 



in Hoy, on which island the nests used to be found; also in 

 the Hebrides and Zetland. In Wales Mr. Dillwyn has recorded 

 its occurrence. 



It appears to be common also in winter in Ireland, on all 

 the north, east, and west coasts, and has been met with afc 

 Youghall, in the south. 



The proper home of this Diver in winter is the sea-board, 

 but it not unfrequently advances to a considerable distance 

 up rivers. It has thus been known to pass London 'via' the 

 Thames; but I may, I think, take it for granted that the 

 journey must have been made during the night. In summer 

 they resort to inland waters, seeking for the quiet of such as 

 are secluded. 



They come southwards in October and November, and 

 return northwards early in March. 



As many as from twenty to twenty-five or thirty of these 

 Divers, and all old ones, have been seen together in a flock. 

 Most commonly, however, with us, small numbers or single 

 birds are to be seen, 'rari nantes in gurgite vasto.' They 

 appear not to be particularly shy. 



They fly with rapidity, with the neck stretched out, and 

 often at a great height, in the night-time, and also in the 

 day. On the land they are completely out of their element, 

 being unable either to stand or walk. They appear to be 

 not undisposed to take flight if pursued, but the other mode 

 of escape is commonly adopted. They dive with all the quick- 

 ness of the rest of their tribe, and can advance below the 

 surface to a. distance of eighty or ninety yards. 



They feed on sprats and other fish, frogs, and spawn, as 

 also, it appears, on portions of plants. 'He fishes alone, and 

 when he is thus employed, and when the sea is running high, 

 he invariably awaits the approach of the gigantic wave; and 

 as it appears about to break upon him, he quietly makes his 

 dive beneath it: having done this with the most graceful 

 ease, he comes up again in a spot where the water is at the 

 moment calm.' 



Their note is a wild, loud, and melancholy wailing cry. 

 It has been expressed by the syllables 'kakera, kakera.' When 

 much given utterance to, it is considered to prognosticate 

 rain, from which supposition one of the provincial names of 

 the bird is derived. Meyer expresses the sound by the syllabW 

 'ah' or 'ech.' 



The situations chosen by this species for laying are by small 



