THE DIVERS. 247 



eggs, and both labour with equal zeal in the feeding and rearing of the young. The eggs are laid 

 towards the end of May, and towards the end of June young birds may be found in the nests ; but 

 the exact period of incubation is not as yet accurately determined. Should the lake on which the 

 nest is placed be well stocked with fish, both the parents remain constantly with their progeny ; but 

 if there is a scarcity of such a supply, and the old birds have to resort to the sea for food, they do so 

 by turns, each of them most probably bringing to the nest a share of what they capture wherewith to 

 feed their nestlings. These last, however, as soon as they are hatched begin to show considerable 

 aptitude for the chase, and are able to procure food for themselves betimes. 'When they are fully- 

 fledged they betake themselves to the sea. 



THE GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 



The Great Northern Diver (Colymbus glacialis) is a very striking bird, measuring about three 

 feet in length and five feet across the wings. The length of each wing is sixteen inches and tail two 

 inches and a quarter. In its summer plumage it is principally black, enlivened with white spots ; on 

 the head and neck the feathers are greenish black, the latter being traversed by a broad longitudinal 

 band of black and white ; a similar stripe is situated on the fore part of the neck. The sides of the 

 upper breast are black striped with white ; the rest of the under surface is a rich satiny white. The 

 eye is light brown, and beak, black ; the exterior of the tarsus is grey, the under surface of a reddish 

 flesh-colour. In its winter dress the upper part and sides are blackish, and without the white spots, 

 and the under surface white ; the breast black, streaked with white. The young are clad in a similar 

 garb, but are without the white streaks upon the breast. 



The Northern Diver is common on all the coasts of the North Sea, as well as on the inland 

 lakes of high latitudes. It appears on the coast of Great Britain in the autumn, and remains during 

 the winter, going at the breeding season ; except at that time, it lives at sea, following the shoals of 

 herrings and sprats ; it also resorts to arms of the sea and sandy bays, floating lightly, with its body 

 deep in the water ; when alarmed, it swims with astonishing swiftness, and endeavours to escape by 

 diving. 



These birds breed on the Faroe Islands. Respecting their manner of nidification Mr. Porter, who 

 observed them closely during the nesting season in Iceland, says : — " The Northern Diver breeds 

 on the lochs of fresh water. In the nests I examined, a single egg was deposited. On the bare 

 ground, but just out of water-mark, rather under a rugged bank on some broken ground, I was 

 successful in finding two nests. I allowed the single egg to remain in one of them in the expectation 

 that another egg would be laid to it, but was disappointed. The old bird was very shy, and always 

 left the egg on our approach, when at a great distance off, taking to the water and keeping so far 

 from the side as not to be within shot." In the breeding season they frequent islands, making their 

 nests of dead herbage near the water's edge. The eggs, usually two in number, are dark olive-brown, 

 with a few umber-brown spots, and are tiiree inches six lines long by two inches three lines broad. The 

 mother lies flat on the eggs, and, if disturbed, pushes herself along the ground with her feet, diving as 

 soon as she reaches the water. The young are able in a day or two after birdi to lollow their mother 

 to the water, and are able to swim and dive well. They are fed during the first fortnight with food 

 from the crop of their- parent. The voice of this bird is loud, plaintive, and much varied in tone. 



Montagu tells us that, " A Northern Diver taken alive was kept in a pond for some months. In 

 a few days it became extremely docile, would come at a call from one side of the pond to the other, 

 and would take food from the hand. The bird had received an injury in the head which had deprived 

 one eye of its sight, and the other was a little impaired ; but, notwithstanding, it could, by incessantly 

 diving, discover all the fish that was thrown into the pond. In default of fish it would eat flesh. It 



