346 BLACK-THROATED DIVER. 
served however, that in their generai habits they greatly resemble those 
species, for on alighting on the water, they at once immerse their bills, 
as if for the purpose of ascertaining whether it yields a supply of suit- 
able food, and afterwards raise themselves and beat their wings. 
This species has almost as powerful a flight as the Great Northern 
Diver or Loon, and I think shoots through the air with even greater 
velocity. When flying it moves its wings rapidly and continuously, 
and has the neck and feet stretched out to their full length. I well re- 
collect that while I was standing near the shore of a large inlet in 
South Carolina, one of these birds, being shot while passing over my 
head at full speed, did not, on account of the impetus, reach the ground 
until upwards of twenty yards beyond me. They are equally expert 
at diving, and fully as much so in eluding the pursuit of their enemies 
when wounded. I saw my friend Mr Harris bring down one from on 
wing, on which Naroteon Coste, and Wittiam Taytor, Captains of 
the Revenue Cutter and Tender of which we had the use, paddled in 
pursuit of it in a light canoe; but, although they advanced with all 
the address of Indians, they proved unsuccessful, for after following it 
both in the Bay of Cayo Island, and in the Bay of Mexico, for nearly 
an hour, they were obliged to return without it, having found it appa- 
rently not in the least fatigued, although it had dived sufficiently often 
to travel above two miles, shifting its course at each immersion. It is 
curious to observe how carefully these birds avoid the danger of sud- 
den storms or heavy gales. On such occasions, I have seen Divers at 
once seek the lee of rocks, islands, or artificial embankments, where 
they could not only remain in security, but also procure their accus- 
tomed food. At other times, when striving against the tempest, they 
dive headlong from on wing, and are sure to reappear in the smooth 
parts which sailors term the trough. 
I once caught one of these birds on the Ohio, it having been inca- 
pacitated from diving by having swallowed a large mussel, which stuck 
in its throat. It was kept for several days, but refused food of every 
kind, exhibited much bad humour, struck with its bill, and died of ina- 
nition. The food of this species consists of fish, aquatic reptiles, tes- 
taceous mollusca, and all sorts of small crustaceous animals. Its flesh 
resembles that of the Loon, and is equally unfit to be eaten. 
The eggs, which are sometimes two, more frequently three, ave- 
rage three inches in length, by two in their greatest breadth, which 
