620 



6 



the bird can crawl up to them at once from the water ; for it cannot walk on the ground, but 

 pushes itself along on its belly. On the 25th of June, 1864, I found on the edge of a lake in 

 the fells of the Gudbrandsdale, a single egg of this Diver placed so close to the water's edge that 

 the ripple touched the edge of the nest ; and, besides, the ground was so swampy that the egg 

 was quite wet ; and yet it contained a fully formed living young bird. In these fell-lakes this 

 Diver feeds almost entirely on the young of Salmo eriox, and is therefore a great scourge to the 

 fisheries, on account of which, according to the new game-laws, a price is put on its head. It is, 

 however, by no means an easy bird to shoot : and it is very tough ; for it will live for some time 

 even when mortally wounded. When fired at on the water it never takes wing, but seeks safety 

 in diving. Just before it disappears below the surface it frequently utters its deep, loud call- 

 note or scream. Its alarm-note, which is often uttered when it has its young with it, and fears 

 danger, resembles a good deal the deep cry of the Raven." 



I possess a fair series of eggs of this Diver, chiefly obtained by myself in Finland, which 

 resemble those of the Red-throated Diver, but are rather darker in tinge of olive and larger in 

 size, measuring from 3^ by 2^gr inches to 3^y by 2-^ inches. 



The specimen figured is an adult male in full summer plumage, and is the bird above 

 described. The immature bird I have not deemed it necessary to figure. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a,juv. Sweden, b, d ad. St. Petersburg, c, d ad. Archangel (Piottuch) . 



E Mus. H. B. Tristram, 

 a, s ad. Kjserringo, Norway, July 1852 (H. B. T.) . 



E Mus. Salvin and Godman. 

 a. Fort Anderson, N.W. of Great-Bear Lake, June 21st, 1865 (R. R. McFarlane). 



