152 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. vir. 



head keeper, absolutely unhurt — quite the most valuable 

 fish that had ever been landed In that net ! I had 

 no desire however to revisit this spot, and as Miss 

 Haviland had successfully photographed a much more 

 amenable bird in another locality, I repaired to that 

 Diver, and during three days, June 9th, 10th and 23rd 

 I exposed seventy-two plates. 



This second nest was also situated on the edge of 

 a little pool above a larger loch ; about a mile from the 

 one and only road round the island. On leaving the 

 road we had to keep along the edge of a low ridge for 

 three parts of the way, then descend abruptly to the 

 tarn. Directly anyone appeared on the end of the 

 ridge the Diver shpped into the water, and as the 

 intruder approached the nest, she either took wing 

 and circled round one's head, or else SAvam to the 

 far end of the pool and watched ; but as soon as quiet 

 reigned she returned to the eggs and no amount of 

 movement inside the tent would put her off. She 

 seemed curious and interested. Each day I came out 

 of the tent to eat my lunch, and sat a few feet from her, 

 photographing her at intervals. Once I tried to stroke 

 her on the neck but that was too great a liberty on 

 my part, though she allowed me to keep within two 

 feet (Plate 12) before diving off ; even then she returned 

 at once when I retired, merely giving me a glance 

 of scorn, as with haughty mien and upcurved beak a 

 trifle more tip-tilted than usual, she swam swiftly up 

 to the bank (Plate 12). 



The Red-throated Diver is a beautiful bird ; personally 

 I prefer it to the Black-throated Diver, though the 

 latter may be considered the more handsome species ; 

 nevertheless when seen at close quarters the Red- 

 throated possesses a quiet and unsurpassed beauty 

 of her own. In bright sunUght the colour of her head 

 is a soft pale grey, a fit setting for the splendid ruby 

 eye ; the longitudinal stripes doAvn the back of the 

 neck and the poise of the head add dignity to the bird. 



