THE DIVER. 259 



very unexpectedly, not far from the habitations of 

 men. For instance, a few years ago one was shot 

 on Styperson Pool, in Adlington, near Macclesfield : 

 either from the close and glossy texture of its fea- 

 thers, or its agility in diving, it was fired at nine 

 times before it could be secured, and at length re- 

 ceived its death-wound from a shot in the head. In 

 the throat, which presented the appearance of a bag 

 appended to the gullet, were found fourteen large 

 perch, quite whole and fresh. Its voracity was such, 

 that even after it was evidently wounded, it con- 

 tinued to bring up fish when diving, remaining 

 at each immersion, several minutes under water, 

 and making its way beneath the surface from one 

 end of the pool to the other. Another of these 

 birds was observed for a considerable length of time 

 on a large piece of water at Westwood-park, near 

 Worcester. The situation of this lake was very 

 retired, no boat was upon it, and scarcely any per- 

 son allowed to approach. This rare visitant seemed 

 to excite as much alarm amongst the other wild 

 fowl on the lake, as surprise amongst those who 

 had the opportunity of seeing it ; for, whenever 

 the stranger approached, they hastened out of the 

 way, and at all times kept as far off as possible. 

 No attempt was made to capture it, as the owner 

 of the water would not allow it to be molested. 

 Their extreme shyness and timidity, though on the 

 whole contributing to their preservation, is, in some 

 instances the cause of their being taken. Thus, 

 the Red-throated Diver, another species near akin 

 to the above, when met with by the natives of the 

 northern islands, flying, as they often do, from one 



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