BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 183 



taken from getting entangled, whilst diving, in the 

 submerged herring-nets of our fishermen. 



238. COLYMBUS SEPTENTRIONALIS, Linnaeus. Red- 



throated Diver. 



P)'ovintial. Sprat-Loon, Speckled Loon. 



Of the three Divers, this is by far the most 

 numerous, never entirely leaving the vicinity of our 

 shores ; for I have met with them out at sea, and 

 along the coast in every month of the year. In 

 summer having the cochineal neck-patch character- 

 istic of the breeding-plumage. In the autumn, in 

 October, we find the young along the coast in the 

 speckled plumage. Like the other Divers, they are 

 always a very difficult bird to obtain, either diving 

 or rising and flying off before a boat or yacht can 

 come within gunshot. I have known a badly wounded 

 Red-throated Diver, struggling on the water, go 

 under just as a hand was extended to grasp him, 

 and, what was most provoking, although the place was 

 carefully marked, not reappear. 



NATATOEES. ALCIDA. 



239. URIA TROILE (Linnaeus). Common Guillemot. 

 Provincial. Willock, Scout, Flaniborough Scout. 



The common Guillemot, the most familiar of our 

 sea-birds, nests annually in immense numbers on 



