Northern Diver. Br. ZooL Svo. ed. v. 2. p. 165. 
29. Arct ZooL 439. Lath. Syn, v. 6. 
p. 837. Don. Br. Birds, v. S. t. 58. 
Mont. Orn. Diet.— Sup, Bewick's Br. 
BirdSy pt. 2. p. 168. Fauna Orcadensis, 
p. 108. 
Egg. Ovarium Brit, pt. 2. 
This species varies considerably in size and weight ; our 
specimen measured from the tip of the bill to the extremity 
of the tail three feet Hve inches, and four feet three inches 
from tip to tip of the wings, and it weighed rather more 
than nine pounds. 
Bill strong, pointed, compressed ; irides golden yellow ; 
neck and head deep black with violet and green reflections ; 
legs flat, toes long, with broad webs. The colours of the 
female are less intense, otherwise they correspond with 
the other sex. 
Thi^ which is the largest species of Diver, principally 
confines its visits to the Northern parts of Great Britain, 
and, excepting in very severe weather, rarely appear South- 
ward. In the winter of 1813-14, during the intense frost, 
two fine birds of this species were taken alive in the Thames, 
below Woolwich, which were kept in confinement for some 
months, |hey eagerly devoured most kinds of fish or offal ; 
at the approach of spring they began to shew great un- 
easiness in their confinement, though they had the range of 
an extensive piece of water, from whence they ultimately 
