THE BLACK-THROATED DIVER. 613 



It is rather a shy bird, and not very easily approached, especially as it is a swift and 

 active diver, vanishing below the surface at the least alarm, and emerging at some distance. 

 It flies well, but, like most diving birds, walks badly. The food of the Smew consists of fish, 

 small crustaceans, mollusks, and insects, which it obtains under the surface as easily as above 

 it. The eggs of this species are warm buff in color, and they are generally eight or ten in 

 number. 



The American Sheldrake [Mergus merganser americanus) inhabits North America 

 and Europe and Asia. It is called Goosander. Audubon says : "This species may be said to 

 be a constant resident with us, as many individuals breed in the interior of the States of New 

 York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine." Like the Grebes, it has the power to sink 

 backwards, and it dives expertly, remaining at times several minutes immersed. It swims so 

 deeply when alarmed, and dives so quickly at the flash of the gun, it is extremely difficult to 

 shoot it on the water. It breeds from Massachusetts northward, and along the Great Lakes. 

 The female is smaller than her mate. The male is twenty-seven inches in length. This bird is 

 common in Long Island Sound, and some winter there. 



Red-breasted Sheldrake {Mergus ser rotor ), also called Fishing Duck. It inhabits the 

 northern hemisphere. It is called by our northern gunners Pied Sheldrake. It is not so com- 

 mon as the preceding. In the Long Island Sound it is common — Avintering there. Audubon 

 says it is by choice mostly dependent on- fresh water for its sustenance, but when winters are 

 severe it is obliged to resort to the open bays and river mouths. It breeds in many of the 

 Middle and Eastern States. 



The Hooded Sheldrake (Lophodytes cueculatus) inhabits the whole of North America, 

 and Europe. In the Missouri region, says Dr. Cones, this is the more common of the three 

 mergansers — M. serrator being the rarest. It breeds in Dakota, and in the Upper Missouri 

 River. It is called in New England Water Pheasant and Hairy Head, according to Giraud. 

 It is more abundant in South Carolina, and common on the Ohio and Missouri rivers. It 

 is a winter resident in Long Island Sound. It is much smaller than the preceding species, 

 being only eighteen inches in length, and two feet in extent of wings. 



We now come to the family of Colymbida?, or Divers. 



The Great Northern Diver is common on northern coasts of Europe, where it may be 

 seen pursuing its arrowy course through and over the water, occasionally dashing through the 

 air on strong pinions, but very seldom taking to the shore, where it is quite at a disad- 

 vantage. 



Perhaps there is no bird which excels the Northern Diver in its subaqueous powers, although 

 the penguins and cormorants are equally notable in that respect. Its broad webbed feet are set 

 so very far back that the bird cannot walk properly, but tumbles and scrambles along much 

 after the fashion of a seal, pushing itself with its feet, and scraping its breast on the ground. 



The Loon (Oolymbus torquatus) is a well-known bird, yet it is not often seen. It is large 

 and striking in appearance, and the plumage in the male is very beautiful. The Great North- 

 ern Diver is another quite common name for it. It measures nearly three feet in length, with 

 an extent of wings of four feet. A variety called Adamsi is known, distinguished by its bill 

 being yellowish-white. 



The Black-throated Diver (C. arcticus) is a fine species, but considerably less in size 

 than the preceding. It is notable for the bold alternate bars of black and white which dec- 

 orate the back and tertials. A variety called Pacificus is like it, but is somewhat less in size. 

 It is abundant on the Pacific coast. The Red-throated is distributed over the whole of the 

 northern parts of both continents. A large chestnut-red patch ou the throat distinguishes it, 

 as well as its smaller size. 



