BLACK-THROATED DIVER. 177 
BLACK-THROATED DIVER. 
Cotympus aRcticus, Linn. 
Pl. XXVIIL., fig. 8. 
Geogr. distr.—Northern portions of the old and new continents 
generally in summer, ranging southwards in winter; occurs sparingly 
on the English coast in cold weather; in Scotland, where it breeds, it 
is resident. 
Food.—Fish, Mollusca, Crustacea, insects, aquatic plants. 
Nest.—Generally none, the eggs being placed in a mere depression 
on the grass or moss; but sometimes this is scantily lined with weeds 
or sedge. : 
Position of nest.—On a small islet or spit of land projecting into a 
lake or inland loch ; near the water’s edge. 
Number of eggs.—1-2. 
Time of nidification.—V-VI. 
In choosing a nesting-place, this species, according to 
Mr. E. T. Booth, frequently selects a small loch in pre- 
ference to a large one, but sometimes the latter is selected, 
particularly if dotted with grass-covered islets having 
shelving banks. 
According to Mr. Howard Saunders, ‘‘ The Red-throated 
Diver frequents more retired spots than the Black-throated 
species, and prefers the shores of small tarns, or even 
pools—often at a considerable elevation—to the islands of 
a larger loch. Sometimes there is a slight nest of loose 
rushes and dried grass, but more frequently the eggs are 
laid upon the bare turf, or stones, within a few feet of the 
water’s edge.”—(Yarrell’s Hist. Brit. Birds, 4th ed., vol. iv., 
. 114.) 
: Mr. Seebohm, however, merely says that ‘‘ The Black- 
throated Diver breeds somewhat sparingly and locally in 
the lochs of the Outer Hebrides, and in the counties of 
Argyll, Perth, Inverness, Ross, and Sutherland.”’— (Hist. 
Brit. Birds, vol. iv., p. 407.) 
