COLYMBUS ARCTICUS : BLACK-THROATED DIVER. 389 



erly portions. It is, however, more numerous, or at any 

 rate more conspicuous, in winter than at other seasons, 

 as most individuals of the species breed farther north. 

 It is a common summer bird of Labrador and New- 

 foundland. The nest is built upon the ground, usually 

 in rank herbage by the water's edge ; the eggs are com- 

 monly two in number, measuring about 3.50X2.25, of a 

 dark greenish or olivaceous color, profusely spotted. 



BLACK-THROATED DIVER. 



CoLYMBUS ARCTICUS L. 



Chars. Back and under parts much a.s in the last species ; upper 

 part of head, and hind neck, bluish-ash or hoary gray ; fore neck 

 purplish-black with a patch of white streaks, the dark color end- 

 ing abruptly ; bill black. The young resemble those of the last 

 species, but will be known by their inferior size. Length, under 

 2.50 feet ; extent about 3.00; wing, 13.00 inches or less ; tarsus, 

 3.00 ; bill about 2.50. 



Dr. Brewer doubts the occurrence of this species in 

 New England, though admitting that "its presence is 

 far from improbable. The nearest approach that I can 

 ascertain is one taken near Point Lepreaux, New Bruns- 

 wick" (Pr. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., xvii, 1875, p. 453). But, 

 to all intents, the locality named is New England ; and 

 therefore, having no doubt of the impropriety of expung- 

 ing the bird from the list, we continue to give it that place 

 which has been accorded by nearly all the New England 

 writers, even though we are unable to point to any 

 recent cases of its actual capture within our limits. 

 Coues calls it a " rare winter visitant, not known to 



