26 
COLYMBID-^i:. 
water alone are not sufficient to overcome the power of 
the scented grease. 
The breeding-places of the Northern Diver are chiefly 
situated within the polar circle; the most southern spot 
in Europe is reported to be the Island of St. Kilda. The 
fresh-water lakes nearest to the sea-coast afford the most 
appropriate spots for the nest, which is always placed close 
to the water in order to prevent the parent bird from 
having the inconvenience of crossing the land during 
incubation. 
The eggs are invariably two in number, in size and 
colour as represented in our plate; • both parents take 
their regular turn at the sitting, and when the young come 
forth, both male and female watch over them until they are 
able to provide for themselves. 
The adult bird is thirty-three inches in length; its beak 
three inches from its forehead to its tip; the wing, from 
the carpus to the tip, thirteen inches; the tarsus, three 
inches; the middle toe, four inches and a quarter. 
The plumage of the adult bird is beautiful in the ex¬ 
treme, although it is by no means gaudy; the head and 
neck are deep black with a strong reflection of green and 
purple; in front of the upper part of the neck is a crescent¬ 
shaped band, and an oblong space on each side of the lower 
part of the neck of a white ground colour, ban-ed with 
black; the back, wings, and all the upper plumage are 
dusky, spotted all over with white; some of these spots 
are round, some oval, and some appear in oblong squares. 
The under plumage is white, with exception of the thighs 
and sides of the breast, which have streaks of dusky. 
The beak is black; the legs and feet, dusky-black out¬ 
side, and greyish white on the inner surface; the eyes 
are brown. 
