The Zoologist— AriuL, 18C7. 681; 



have his turn now. Is it not strange how they take year about to 

 come in numbers? I have always remarked when sea birds arrive 

 early in autumn they migrate further somewhere, — of course I do not 

 know where, and I will not copy the hackneyed expressions, " sunny 

 seas," " genial climes," " balmy south," &c, but they do not, at all 

 events, winter off our coasts in as great numbers as when they arrive 

 late. September 28lh. To-day I shot in Dalkey Sound a very tidy 

 little specimen in its first plumage, and though he was but a " gosling" 

 (for he could not have been more than three months old) he flew like 

 a — what? — like a redlhroated diver — yes, nothing flies better — like a 

 redthroated diver at the approach of the boat; but his " winnowing 

 pinions" were to meet a premature check, and he now stands amongst 

 the duplicates in my collection, labelled " First Plumage." Oh ! ye 

 that put faith in those whose writings tell you that the Colymbi rarely 

 seek escape by flying, and the northern diver never, will be sadly dis- 

 appointed when you come to chase them. Scores upon scores of times 

 have I been compelled to give up a chase in consequence of their 

 taking wing — yes, and at times, too, when my wind and sinews would 

 be settled to their work, and my boat feel as if a part of myself — when 

 their life was mine as certain as the oar in ray hand if they kept to 

 diving ; aye, and they would know it, too, and take to flight, but often 

 then the floating case of an exploded cartridge could tell a tale of a 

 flight cut short. In spring the redthroated and the northern divers 

 are next to impossible to procure, on [account of their taking ving 

 half a mile from the boat. When on the wing, however, they are great 

 fools, and will fly within oars' length of the boat they so much dreaded 

 when swimming. They are extremely hard to shoot on the wing when 

 giving a side shot, on account of the velocity of the flight: I find to 

 aim three feet ahead quite little enough for every ten yards, so that a 

 bird at forty yards will require an allowance of twelve feet. 



The Redthroated Diver no " Redthroat" in Winter. — October 3rd. 

 After a very arduous chase to-day, I killed, alone and unaided, five 

 redthroated divers : three were adults in the autumn moult, one (fired at 

 in despair) had the head cut off by an Enfield ball, two were young of 

 the year. Two of the adults were in strong moult, there being a good 

 mixture of both seasons' feathers ; the third, a good shot specimen, is 

 in the faded summer or my adult summer " plumage B," in some parts 

 showing new feathers of the winter, but on the whole being in adult 

 summer dress : he is in my collection. This bird I think should prove 

 to the most sceptical that the redthroat, &c, is only a summer plumage. 



SECOND SERIKS — VOL. II. X 



