THE RED-THROATED DIVER. 303 



evidently conveys to their offspring their wish that they should remain quiet 

 in their hiding-places. 



The Red-throated Diver does not acquire the full beauty of its plumage 

 until its fourth year. The young are at first covered with thick hairy down, 

 of a blackish colour, inclining to brown. Before they are fully able to fly, 

 this is changed into a dull grey on the upper parts, thickly sprinkled with 

 white dots on the extremity of each feather, the lower parts being of a sullied 

 white. During the second year these tints are firmer, there are fewer spots 

 above, and the texture of the lower parts is more silky. In the third, both 

 sexes assume the fine grey of the hind neck, with its longitudinal white 

 stripes, and here and there a few spots of red on the lower part of the throat. 

 The next spring their plumage is perfect. 



I have never observed any of these birds on our inland lakes or rivers. 

 In the neighbourhood of Boston, and along the Bay of Fundy, they are best 

 known by the names of "Scape-grace" and "Cape-racer." By the 9th of 

 August the 3 7 oung birds had left the fresh-water lakes and ponds for the bays 

 on the coast, and we were informed by the settlers, both in Newfoundland 

 and Labrador, that, by the last days of September, none were to be found in 

 those countries. 



The dislike which this species shews to fresh-water after the breeding 

 season is such, that they are rarely seen in the upper part of large bays, but 

 prefer for their winter residence the shores of sea-islands and barren rocks. 

 Thus, at that season, they are met with about the outer islands of the Bay of 

 Fundy, and those along our eastern coast. 



While in fresh water, the Red-throated Diver feeds principally on small 

 fish, shrimps, leeches, snails, and aquatic insects. The masses of feather- 

 like substances often found in the stomachs of Grebes, I have never met with 

 in this species. Its flesh is oily, tough, dark coloured, and disagreeable to 

 the taste, although I saw some mountain Indians feeding upon it at Labrador 

 with apparent pleasure. 



Colymbus septentrionalis, Bonap. Syn., p. 421. 



Red-throated Diver, Colymbus septentrionalis, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., 

 ' vol. ii. p. 476. 



Red-throated Diver, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 519. 



Red-throated Diver, Colymbus septentrionalis, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 20; vol. v. 

 p. 625. 



Male, 19, 25. Female, 18, 24. 



Not uncommon during winter, autumn, and early spring, from Maryland 

 eastward. Breeds in Newfoundland, Labrador, and as far north as the 

 Arctic Seas. 



