THE RED-THROATED DIVER. 205 



to flight, in preference to diving, when closely pursued. In this 

 instance I fully calculated on getting a shot at one, which I fol- 

 lowed up a very long and narrow channel from wliich he could 

 not apparently escape, but he took wing before I came within five 

 shots of him. Considering the habits of the species, I looked 

 upon this as the result of a train of reasoning, as in the open sea 

 or a wider channel he would certainly have admitted a much 

 nearer approach, and have let me get all but within shot before 

 diving to escape. They possess considerable powers of flight, but 

 appear rather awkward in the air, with their necks stretched 

 straight out before their bodies like long sticks." 



During days of bright sunshine in spring, when the sea was 

 perfectly calm, red-throated divers have frequently been observed, 

 through a telescope, in Belfast Bay, enjoying themselves after 

 their own peculiar fashion, by turning the body slowly round, 

 screw -like, in one direction, occasionally lolling for a time with 

 their backs on the surface of the water, again lying upon their 

 sides, and assuming innumerable attitudes. The first bird per- 

 ceived in this state was supposed to have been severely wounded 

 and in the agonies of death, but it was soou afterwards ascertained 

 to be a habit of the species during the warm and genial weather 

 of spring."^ 



This diver comes far up Belfast Bay, and occasionally, during 

 the period of its stay, near to the town; I have known one to 

 be killed some distance up the river Lagan, but within flow of 

 the tide. 



The red -throated diver varies so much in size and in its dif- 

 ferent states of plumage, that, until of late years, it was con- 

 sidered as constituting more than one species. Notes are 

 before me of several specimens varying from 3 lbs. 9 oz., to 

 6i lbs., though in total length they ranged only from 2 feet 4, 

 to 2 feet 7 inches. A young bird of the year, killed in Belfast 

 Bay, was once brought to me (February 1, 1838), after having 

 been hghtened of six young herrings from four to six inches in 



* Mr. Darragh. 



