Birds. 1181 



Frequents the Tees to a great distance inland. In this genus and the 

 next, the claw of the middle toe is serrated on its under side, like that 

 of the goatsucker. And one would imagine, that the sense of smelling 

 is possessed by the Carbonidae in a very small degree, since their nos- 

 trils are concealed and almost impervious. 



Shag, Phalacrocorax graculus. The occipital feathers in the adults 

 of this species become, like those of the cormorant, lengthened into a 

 crest during the breeding season. The entire plumage being of a 

 glossy green, at once distinguishes it from the latter ; it is likewise 

 much less, and of a more awkward form. Common on our rocky coast. 



Gannet, Soland Goose, Sula Bassana. Frequent, and named by 

 the fishermen mackerel gant, at Hartlepool. Rarely follows the 

 course of the Tees inland, perhaps only in the severity of winter. 

 This genus belongs to Cuvier's Totipalmse, or entire webs. Here we 

 find the hind-toe brought forward, or rather to the inner side, and con- 

 nected with the three fore-toes by a strong and entire web. Yet with 

 these extraordinary feet, which seem so awkward for walking, or even 

 resting, on the ground, some of this group, e. g. the cormorants, often 

 perch on trees, and sometimes inhabit the tops of houses. See Zepha- 

 niah, chap. ii. v. 14. 



Great Northern Diver, Colymbus glacialis. The mature birds 

 are very rare ; but the young, the imber divers (Colymbus immer) are 

 less so. All the divers possess the property of seeing in the water 

 with considerable acuteness ; in fact, some have been noticed, whilst 

 watching for fish, to place their heads under water. The Colymbidae 

 and the Alcidae, walk with difficulty, on account of their legs being 

 placed so near their tails; which conformation, however, adapts them 

 more completely to diving. 



Black-throated Diver, Colymbus arcticus. Rare : the young, or 

 lesser imber, was shot on our coast in January, 1830. 



Red-throated Diver, or Loon, Colymbus septentrionalis. The 

 speckled diver ( Colymbus stellatus) is the immature bird, and is com- 

 mon in the winter on our shores and in the river Tees. 



Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus. Rare at Hartlepool, 

 according to Sharp's List. But the tippet grebe, or the young bird, 

 " frequents the Tees in severe weather." — J. G. 



Horned, or Sclavonian Grebe, Podiceps comutus. This is the 

 dusky grebe of Bewick. I have seen an individual that was killed 

 on our coast in the winter of 1829-30. The former species and the 

 present have the same kind of crest, and tippet or frill around the 

 neck. 



