THE RED-THROATED DIVER 



THE RED-THROATED DIVER. 



Cofymbtis septentrionalis, Linnaeus. 

 Plate 77. 



The Red-throated Diver is plentiful off the coasts of the British Islands 

 throughout the autumn and winter, and in summer breeds in many localities on the 

 northern mainland of Scotland, as well as in the Orkneys, Shetlands, and Outer 

 Hebrides, while a few birds are said to nest in Ireland. It inhabits Iceland, Spits- 

 bergen, Greenland, and the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America, and visits 

 more southern regions in winter. 



Macgillivray, in his History of British Birds, pp. 304-305, describing the 

 habits of this species, says : " In alighting it comes down nearly erect, ploughing 

 up the water for a short way. Its activity in its proper element is astonishing ; it 

 swims with extreme speed, keeping deep in the water, and sometimes only allowing 

 its head and neck to emerge. In diving it slips as it were out of sight without 

 noise or flutter, and under water pursues its way with great speed, using its wings 

 as well as its feet. Its food consists of small fishes, especially sprats, young 

 herrings, and codfish, as well as Crustacea, and I have usually found numerous 

 pebbles and bits of gravel in its stomach. . . . The nest is placed on an island, or 

 tuft, or among the herbage near the margin, or even on the stony beach, of a lake or 

 pool, and is composed of grass, sedge, and heath, or other easily-procured plants, 

 generally in small quantity, and neatly put together. The eggs, in so far as I am 

 aware, are always two ; but it is stated by some that three as frequently occur. . . . 

 They are of a deep or pale olive-brown, or dull greenish-brown, or pale brownish- 

 green colour, spotted and dotted with umber, more densely at the larger end." 



In the nesting season, this species, like the other Divers, utters loud and harsh 

 cries. 



85 



