THE GEEAT NORTHERN DIVER. 195 



Oil the lOtli of that mouth an adult bird was seen at the entraucc 

 of the bay. 



On the 24th of Aprils 1850, a great northern diver (in its 

 third year's plumage) was captured off Island Magee, on a hook 

 baited with " buckie " {Bucclnum undatuni) for cod, and brought 

 uninjured to Belfast. The bait was taken, at a depth of from 

 thirty to forty fathoms. The bird was purchased by a gen- 

 tleman to keep along with a number of other species in his pos- 

 session ; but when sent home for that purpose, its most melan- 

 choly cry — somewhat resembling the howl of a dog as he " bays 

 the moon," though not very long-drawn — wrought so upon the 

 feelings of the lady of the house that she besought its liberty, and 

 a few hours afterwards — in the privacy of night — it Avas consigned 

 to its native element. When placed on the sea, it dived for 

 about fifty yards, and then emerging, assumed for a moment an 

 upright position, flapped its wings, gave a loud cry (or " crow"), 

 as if of defiance, and seeing the boat approaching, dived again. 

 It was not farther followed. Although the wings were perfect, 

 this bird did not attempt to rise into the air from the ground, 

 nor from a very large vessel of water in which it was placed. 

 Quickly, however, its way was made in a swimming manner along 

 the floor of a shop in which it was temporarily placed, while 

 its mournful note, frequently repeated, attracted such a crowd, 

 that the bird was hurried away with all possible speed. 



A great northern diver, shot by a bird -preserver in Belfast (its 

 weight 14) lbs.) came under my inspection some months after- 

 wards, when he believed it to have been kiUed in July, but had 

 no note on the subject. It was obtained at Garmoyle, a deep pool 

 in the bay, about three miles from the town, and a favourite 

 haunt of the species in winter, when two or three are frequently 

 to be seen at one view. Proceeding from this place to the 

 entrance of the bay, the same day on which the specimen was 

 procured, my informant saw a considerable number of these 

 birds dotting the water singly here and there all the way : there 

 may have been forty altogether. Dr. Fleming has remarked, 

 that " the young birds are occasionally seen in summer in tlu.' 



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