COLYMBID^. 537 



amount of slaughter of tame Pheasants just arrived 

 by rail from Mr. Castang's. If any of the tailors 

 and cockneys the Kev. F. 0. Morris writes so 

 pathetically about, in the ' Times,' as destroying 

 the poor Gulls and Guillemots at their breeding 

 stations about Flamborough, would try their hands 

 instead at a good Northern Diver chase, rowing or 

 sailing their own boat, they would get plenty of sea 

 air and exercise, and might consume as much beer 

 and expend as much ammunition as if they had shot 

 two or three hundred poor birds either sitting on 

 their eggs or seeking food for their young, who, 

 consequent upon the death of the parent birds, are 

 left to starve on their nests ; and besides, there 

 would be more enjoyment in an occasional success, 

 as there would certainly be some skill and perse- 

 verance shown in the chase. 



The food of the Northern Diver consists almost 

 entirely of fish, such as herrings, mackerel, sprats, 

 sand-eels, and occasionally prawns and shrimps. 



The Great Northern Diver does not appear to 

 breed in any part of England ; but I believe it does 

 so occasionally in the extreme North of Scotland 

 and in the Scotch Islands : at this time it appears to 

 frequent inland waters and lakes. The nest, which 

 is flat and made of dead herbage, is placed near the 

 water, amongst reeds and flags. The nesting time 

 appears to be the only period in which this bird ever 

 willingly goes on shore, for, as may be at once seen 



