EGGS AND EGG-COLLECTING. 91 
tussock or amongst reeds, the base generally resting in 
water. The eggs number eight to ten, and even twelve, 
and vary in ground colour from white to buff, the inter- 
mediate stages including olive and greenish-white. They 
are spotted with reddish-brown of varying shades, and 
grey. 
THE RED-THROATED DIVER. 
I wave seen this bird’s nest in the Outer Hebrides, where 
it is fairly common. It also breeds on the mainland of 
Scotland and in Ireland. The nest is generally placed 
close to the edge of some mountain tarn or loch, and is a 
mere depression trodden in the peat earth, sometimes 
scantily lined with bits of dead bent or water-weeds. The 
eggs number two, of a dark brownish-olive, frequently 
greenish, spotted with blackish-brown, and underlying 
markings of a lighter character. 
THE BLACK-THROATED DIVER. 
Tue Black-throated Diver breeds in the Outer Hebrides 
and on the mainland of Scotland. Itplaces its nest, which 
is made of reeds and aquatic weeds, lined with grass, on 
the shingle of mountain-loch shores and small islands. 
The eggs number two, dark olive-brown, or buffish-brown, 
spotted somewhat sparingly with blackish-brown and 
umber-brown. The eggs need careful identification, else 
they are likely to be confused with those cf the Red- 
throated species. 
