RED-THROATED DIVER. 21 



with fantastic glidings and curves, they dive towards the spot of their 

 choice. Alighted on the water, how gracefully they swim, how sportive- 

 ly they beat it with their strong pinions, how quickly they plunge and 

 rise again, and how joyously do they manifest to each other the depth 

 and intensity of their affection ! Now with erected neck and body deeply 

 immersed they swim side by side. Reynard they perceive cunningly ad- 

 vancing at a distance ; but they are too vigilant for him, and down like 

 a flash they go, nor rise again until far beyond his reach. Methinks I 

 see them curiously concealed among the rank weeds under the bank of 

 their ov/n islet, their bills alone raised above the water, and there will 

 they remain for an hour, rather than shew themselves to their insidious 

 enemy, who, disappointed, leaves them to pursue their avocations. 



The Red-throated Diver is found, in tolerable abundance, on the sea- 

 coast of the United States during autumn, winter, and early spring, from 

 Maryland to the extremities of Maine. The younger the birds, the far- 

 ther south do they proceed to spend the winter, and it is rare to see an 

 old bird, of either sex, at any season to the south of the Bay of Boston. 

 Farther eastward they become more common, and they may be said to be 

 plentiful towards the entrance of the Bay of Fundy, in the vicinity of 

 which a few remain and breed. I found some in December, January, 

 and February at Boston, where I procured males, females, and young 

 birds. The old had the red patch on the throat rather darker than in 

 the breeding season ; the delicate grey and white lines on the neck were 

 as pure as I observed them to be during summer in Labrador ; and I 

 have since been convinced that birds of this family undergo very little if 

 any change of colouring after they have once acquired their perfect 

 plumao-e, the Loon and the Black-throated Diver being included in this 

 remark ; while, on the contrary, all the Grebes with which I am ac- 

 quainted, lose the beauty of their plumage as soon as the breeding season 

 is over. This remarkable difference between the Divers and the Grebes 

 would of itself be sufficient to separate the two genera, were there not 

 also other distinctions. The Divers, moreover, live on the sea during the 

 o-reater part of the year, and resort to ponds, lakes, or the borders of 

 rivers to breed ; whilst the Grebes spend most of their time on inland 

 lakes, marshes, and streams. Immediately after the breeding season, as 

 soon as the young are able to fly, the families of Divers make their way 

 to the arms and inlets of the sea, rarely entering the fresh waters until 

 the following spring. 



