THE BIRDS OP lONA AND MULL. 253 



diately give chase, and often successfully, for, though diving at the 

 first approach of the boat, he will often rise within shot, if headed with 

 judgment. If once seriously alarmed and bent upon escape, he will, 

 of course, distance the swiftest boat in no time, remaining an almost 

 incredible time under water ; but he never takes wing, as the two 

 smaller divers will do when hard pressed. In this way the great 

 northern gives good sport, and offers an irresistible temptation for 

 pursuit, though we hardly ever attempted to eat him when captured, 

 though I have tried it cold and skinned, instead of plucked, which is 

 the best way of treating sea-birds of doubtful edibility. The skin, as 

 a trophy, constitutes its only value, but it has to undergo a very 

 thorough cleansing, as the body is encased in such a layer of fat, 

 adhering to the skin almost like blubber. In June they have all dis- 

 appeared, except a few laggards, who then become no small prize, being 

 in their splendid and remarkable breeding plumage of summer, which 

 presents a striking contrast in colour and peculiar markings to the dull 

 grey uniform of winter. The irides are also of a fiery red, like car- 

 buncles. The voice is a loud, prolonged shout, like a hoarse bray, 

 which is said to forbode the approach of a storm. C. M'Vean says 

 that the people of the outer islands believe it breeds there, and the 

 very early appearance of the young one in company with the parent 

 bird seems to corroborate the belief. 



The Solavokian Grebe. 



Though I never met this bird among the isles, I became familiar 

 with it at Lochgilphead, where it comes in small parties in the month 

 of March, remaining in the loch during the whole of that month on 

 their northerly migration. They are then in full summer plumage, 

 evidently going in pairs, though a number of these keep together, 

 forming a little society while halting in our waters. They employ 

 themselves all day long diving and fishing very actively, taking very 

 long dives, and reappearing a vast distance from where they plunge. 

 This peculiarity alone makes them difficult to shoot, as they are not at 

 all shy of the shore, though they are of a boat, at the approach of 

 which they are always ready to fly. I have shot these birds both in 

 summer and winter plumage on the lakes and rivers of Canada, where 



