COLYMBIM;. 245 



than two or three inches from the water's edge." In Cen- 

 tral and Temperate Europe this species frequents the shores 

 during winter ; in Northern Europe it is extremely abun- 

 dant, breeding as with us. It is also a North American 

 species ; and Mr. Audubon has recorded that he found the 

 nests in Labrador in June, placed on the banks of the fresh- 

 water lakes, and composed of a few blades of grass loosely 

 put together. The eggs, as before stated, are two in num- 

 ber; they are of an olive-cojour spotted with grey and 

 blackish-brown. 



THE BLACK-THKOATED DIVER. Colymbus arcticus. This 

 species is rarer than the last, but is found breeding on some 

 of the lochs of the northern part of Scotland. It breeds 

 upon the small islands, or upon the banks of these waters, 

 placing its scanty nest a few yards from the edge of the 

 water, in a hollow formed by the bird; the nest consists 

 only of a few straws of herbage gathered around. Sir 

 William Jardine remarks : " We discovered one nest on a 

 small bare islet on Loch Shin, and landing on the opposite 

 side, approached, and could perceive the bird lying as it 

 were on the eggs, but with the head raised, having heard 

 our approach. On perceiving us she scuffled along her 

 short trodden path to the water, diving immediately, and 



