196 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



these children of the ocean, and listen while Mr. McGillivray de- 

 scribes one of those picturesque scenes in which he delights. " It 

 is now the end of spring, when the returning warmth gives an in- 

 crease of animation to the wandering tribes of the winged inha- 

 bitants of the ocean air; but the Loon makes comparatively little 

 use of his wings, and his great bulk and robust frame would be 

 ill adapted for the hovering flight of the Gulls and Petrels. There 

 he comes, followed by his mate, advancing with marvellous speed. 

 They have rounded the point, and now they stop for a moment to 

 cast a searching glance along the shore, lest an enemy should be. 

 lurking there. Forward they start — the smooth water rippling 



Fig. 78.— Great Northern Divers. 



gently against their sides. Small effort they seem to make, and 

 yet powerful must be the strokes of the oars which impel masses 

 so large at so rapid a rate. Now and again they dip their bills into 

 the water; then the head and neck. One glides gently under the 

 surface, without plunge or flutter, and in a few seconds it appears 

 with a fish in its bill, which, with upstretched head and neck, it 

 swallows. The other having also dived, appears with a fish, larger, 

 and less easily managed. It beats it about, plashing the water, 

 and seems unable to adapt it to the capacity of its gullet ; but at 

 length, after much striving, it is mastered, and the search is con- 

 tinued. Backwards and forwards, over the clear sand of the 

 shallow bay, they glide in their quiet way, and now they have both 

 dived with their heads towards us. One rises close to the sea-weed, 

 and so near to us, that we might almost count the spots on his 



