COLYMBID&. 715 
THE RED-THROATED DIVER. 
COLYMBUS SEPTENTRIONALIS, Linnzeus. 
This species, the smallest member of the genus, is also the most 
abundant in the British Islands; immature birds and—in fewer 
numbers—-adults with the white throats characteristic of winter- 
plumage being found on all our coasts from autumn to spring. In 
April examples with red throats may be noticed, and these increase 
in frequency as we proceed northwards; until in Scotland this 
Diver is found breeding, in variable though sometimes considerable 
numbers, in most—if not all—of the Hebrides, and on the main- 
land from Argyllshire upwards, as well as in the Orkneys and 
Shetlands. To Ireland it is a regular visitor during the cold 
season, and, in spite of the egg-collector, a pair or two sometimes 
manage to rear their young on some of the loughs in Donegal. In 
pursuit of fish this Diver frequents estuaries and is often met with 
far up rivers, sometimes occurring on inland waters in winter as well 
as in summer. 
Northward the Red-throated Diver has been observed up tolat. 82°, 
while it breeds plentifully in Spitsbergen, and throughout the Arctic 
and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia and America. In Europe 
its migrations extend to the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian 
Seas, though the bird is less frequently noticed on inland waters 
than its congeners; and G&tke has recorded, under date - of 
December 22nd 1879, a passage of large numbers off Heligoland. 
Von Heuglin says that he has seen immature examples on the 
lagoons of Lower Egypt in winter; at which season the range of 
this species reaches Japan, China and Formosa in Asia, and Mary- 
land in America. 
