224 COLYMBIDINJE, 



liarity, and never attempting to strike with the bill, or to 

 utter any cry. 



Having on two occasions observed birds of this species on 

 the wing, few exhibited an appearance so ludicrous, the long 

 neck, as in a similar manner to the cormorants, being held 

 stretched out from them in the stiifest manner possible. 



Habitat Northern Europe. 



SPECIES 217 THE BLACK-THROATED DIVER. 



Colymbus arcticus. Linn. 

 Plongeon lumme ou a gorge noir. Temm. 



Lesser Imber. 



THIS beautiful species, in the adult male plumage, is by far 

 the rarest of the divers in its occurrence in Ireland, only two 

 instances in that stage of plumage having been obtained. 

 Of nearly equal rarity in the plumage of the lesser imber, 

 one specimen was obtained in the winter of 1831 by Dr. J. D. 

 Marshall on Lough Neagh, accompanied by two of the red- 

 throated species, also obtained : they were remarked by that 

 discerning ornithologist to have been very tame when com- 

 pared with brent geese, cormorants, and other sea-fowl.* 



In October, 1850, we succeeded in obtaining a fine speci- 

 men in similar plumage, which was shot between Howth and 

 Kingstown, after an arduous chase from where it was first 

 observed in Dalkey Sound. The marking of the neck differs 

 from Dr. Marshall's specimen" in being closely mottled with 

 black, the feathers when raised showing deep black under- 

 neath. On examination of the contents of the stomach, it 

 contained the remains of sprats and other small fishes. The 

 flesh, a portion of which was cooked, was extremely well- 

 flavoured, and differed considerably from that of the great 

 northern diver, preserved at the same time by Mr. Glennon. 



Habitat Northern Europe. 



SPECIES 218 THE GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 



Colymbus glacialis. Linn. 



Plongeon imbrim. Temm. 



Imber. 



THE GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, attractive both from its large 

 size and elegant appearance, occurs very nearly in the same 



* Thompson. 



