178 BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS. 
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 
CoLympus GLActaLis, Linn. 
Pl. XXVIIL., fig. 2. 
Geogr. distr.—Almost circumpolar: suitable localities throughout 
N. Europe, Asia, and America, excepting N.W. America; in winter 
extending in the Palearctic region as far south as the Mediterranean, 
and in America as far down as Texas; in Great Britain it occurs 
sparingly in autumn and winter, being not uncommon in the South of 
England. It is said to breed in Scotland, and Dr. Saxby believes that 
it breeds in the Orkneys. 
Food.—Small fish and Crustacea. 
Nest.—A heaped-up mass of aquatic vegetation and grass. 
Position of nest.—On small islands or collections of half-floating 
aquatic plants near edge of water. 
Number of eggs.—2-3 ; usually 2. 
Time of nidification.—VI. 
According to Mr. Cecil Smith, the Great Northern 
Diver, though not known to him to breed in England, 
probably does so occasionally in the vicinage of inland 
waters in the extreme north of Scotland and in the Scotch 
Islands. 
“The nest, which is flat, and made up of dead herbage, 
is placed near the water, amongst reeds and flags. The 
nesting time appears to be the only period in which this 
bird ever willingly goes on shore, for, as may be at once 
seen from the position of its legs and feet, it is not a great 
pedestrian, and, although a good flyer when once on the 
wing, it cannot rise from the land: when on that element 
it seems to progress more like a seal than a bird, jumping 
along on its hind legs(!) and wings.”—(‘ Birds of Somerset- 
shire,’ pp. 587-8.) 
The eggs of this and the Black-throated species were lent 
to me for illustration by Mr. Dresser; that of the Red- 
throated Diver was given to me by the Hon. Walter de 
Rothschild. 
