PLATE XLIX. 



to whofe abilities and attention the fcience of Ornithology is fo 

 much indebted, has, however, endeavoured to prove, not only that; 

 they are two diftindt. fpecies, but that the Mergus Caftor of Linnaeus 

 is a mere variety * of the Dun- Diver, or fuppofed female of the 

 Mergus Merganfer, our prefent fpecies. 



Mr. Latham alfo obferves, among other minute particulars, that the 

 Dun- Diver is ever lefs than the Goofander ; and individuals of that 

 bird differ greatly in fize : that in one fpecimen the creft of the fup- 

 pofed female was longer and fuller than in that thought to be the 

 male ; a circumftance obferved in no other bird that is furnifhed 

 with a creft ; for in fuch the females in many cafes have not even 

 the rudiment of one. He fays alfo, on the authority of Dr. 

 Heyfham, that the Dun-Diver is infinitely more common in Cum- 

 lerland than the Goofander, at leaft ten or fifteen of the firft, to one 

 of the laft. And he farther adds in the Supplement, " I have 

 been lately informed by Dr. Hey/ham, that he fome time fince dif- 

 fered two Dun-Divers, the one weighing about two pounds : this 

 proved a female ; the eggs numerous, and appearing very diftinc~L 

 The other bird being much larger, weighed full three pounds. 

 The creft in this was longer than that of the other, and the belly ! 

 of a bright buff colour. This proved, on difleclion, a male."' 



* The fpecimen Mr. Latham defcribes was killed on the coaft of Suffolk ; it was no 

 bigger than the Smew, but agreed in the general colour of its plumage with the Dutt- 

 Diver, except the neck, which had a greater mixture of afh-colour, and that it had a 

 pale flreak between the noftrils and eye. 



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