GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. in 
racy. They say it measures three feet six inches in length, 
and four feet eight in breadth, and weighs sixteen pounds. If 
this be a correct statement, it would lead to the surmise that 
our diver is a different species; for, of several specimens which 
we examined, the best and largest has been described for this 
work, the admeasurement of which bird comes considerably 
short of that of the European mentioned above. The weight, 
as has been stated, was eight pounds and a half. 
According to Temminck, the adult male and female are 
alike in plumage. All the females which have passed under 
my examination differed from the old males; and it is the 
universal opinion among our sportsmen who reside on the 
coast, where the loons are common, that the adults of both 
sexes may always be distinguished by their garb. However, 
in confirmation of Temminck’s opinion, I can adduce the 
authority of the Prince of Musignano, Charles Lucian Bona- 
parte, who has informed me that he has in his collection a 
female which was shot in the Delaware, and which differs in 
no respect from the adult male. 
On a re-examination of the “Supplement to the Ornitho- 
logical Dictionary” of Montagu, I find upon this subject the 
following remarks, which should seem to put the question at 
rest respecting the identity of the Huropean and American 
species :—‘“It should appear that the size of this species has 
been commonly exaggerated, or they must vary very materially, 
since those which have come under our examination did not 
exceed ten pounds; and an old or matured male measured 
only two feet eight inches. A young female, before the plumage 
was perfected, weighed eight pounds six ounces, and measured 
two feet seven inches in length. 
“A northern diver, taken alive, was kept in a pond for 
some months, which gave us an opportunity of attending to 
its manners. In a few days it became extremely docile, 
would come at the call from one side of the pond to the 
other, and would take food from the hand. The bird had 
received an injury in the head, which had deprived one eye 
VOL, III. H 
