( 20 ) 

 THE RED-THROATED DIVER. 



n COLYMBUS SEPTENTRIONALIS, LiNN. 

 PLATE ecu. Male in summer, Young Male in winter, Female, and Young 



UNFLEDGED. 



Whilst the icicles are yet hanging from the rocks of our eastern 

 shores, and the snows are gradually giving way under the influence of 

 the April rains, the Bluebird is heard to sound the first notes of his love- 

 song, and the Red-throated Diver is seen to commence his flight. Al- 

 ready paired, the male and female, side by side, move swiftly through 

 the air, steering their course, at a great height, towards some far distant 

 region of the dreary north. Pair after pair advance at intervals during 

 the whole day, and perhaps continue their journey all night. Their long 

 necks are extended, their feet stretched out rudder-like beyond the short 

 tail, and onwards they speed, beating the air with great regularity. Now 

 they traverse a great arm of the sea, now cross a peninsula ; but let what 

 may intervene, their undeviating course holds straight forwards, as the 

 needle points to its pole. High as they are, you can perceive the brilliant 

 white of their lower parts. Onward they speed in silence, and as I stand 

 gazing after them, they have already disappeared fi'ora my view. 



The middle of May has arrived ; our woods are once more filled with 

 the melodies of numberless warblers, and the Divers have ceased to be 

 seen on our eastern coasts. To study their habits at this season, we must 

 follow them to the islands in the mouth of the broad St Lawrence, or to 

 the granitic rocks of Labrador. The voyage cannot be performed with- 

 out great expense, and may be attended with danger, but enthusiasm 

 urges me on, and now my bark skims over the blue waters. At length 

 arrived on the rocky shores, I prepare to visit the interior of that rude 

 and moss-clad region. Thousands of little lakes are seen, on which are 

 numberless islets richly clad with grass and sedge, the whole of which 

 seems as if it had grown in a day, so tender are the fresh blades, and so 

 pure their light green tint. High over these waters, the produce of the 

 melted snows, the Red-throated Diver is seen gambolling by the side of 

 his mate. The males emit their love-notes, and, with necks gracefully 

 curved downwards, speed by the females, saluting them with mellow tones 

 as they pass. In broad circles they wheel their giddy flight, and now, 



