9 
RED-Tll HOAXED DIVER. 
Rcd-tliroatcd Divers ; many were in full, though the majority showed intermediate plumage, their necks 
being much speckled Avith white. The whole of the birds were collected within a short distance of the 
herring-boats, evidently attracted to the spot by the abundance of fish. 
On the 21th of May, 1883, while at our boat-house on the shingle-banks between Shoreham and 
Lancing, in Sussex, I watched a Diver busily searching for food close to the shore. The bird was 
probably in quest of shrimps, and into such shallow water did his prey lead him, that having been 
caught by an unsually heavy roller Avhile rising to the surface, he was turned right over and carried 
hel])less on to the beach. In a moment, however, he recovered, and by the help of wings and le^s, 
aided by a receding swell, Avas SAA’ept back to his natural element. 
I repeatedly remarked during autumn and Avinter that immense flights of these Divers are observed 
in the Channel flying Avest shortly before stormy Aveather sets in ; on such occasions Guillemots and 
Razorbills are also folloAving the same course. “With hardly a single exception, I find by referring to my 
notes that these general movements foretell a change, heavy gales usually setting in Avithin a fcAV days. 
A somewhat ludicrous incident Avhich might, hoAvever, have been attended Avith serious results, 
occurred Avhile I AA'as engaged in procuring one or tAvo specimens of this species in Avinter plumage in 
the Channel early in 1870. A Avounded bird Avhich had led us Avithin a short distance of the beach off 
Aldrington, a mile west of Brighton, Avns on the point of being secured, when our attention AA'as 
attracted by the report of a gun or rifle on the shore, and the next moment a bullet flecked up the 
water tAventy yards from the boat, and passing harmlessly by struck again about thirty yards beyond. 
The AA'ind AA'as north, and the sea inshore as smooth as glass, and on looking from one spot to the other 
I could not understand how our boat or crcAV escaped Avithout injury. A dense fog obscured every object 
beyond a hundred yards, but a figure from Avhich the shot had CA’idently proceeded Avas dimly A'isible on 
the beach ; and as one good turn deserves another, I picked up a heavy double charged Avith 1| oz. green 
cartridge ]Vo. 1 and returned the compliment. The old gun had a nasty trick of balling, and one of the 
men remarked avo should probably find some part of the delinquent on the shore. He AA'as just vanishing 
in the haze as I fired, and Avhen we landed no signs of him could be found. Some navvies at AA'ork at 
a road near at hand were attracted to the spot by the shots, and on an inquiry having been made 
informed us that they had seen a person armed Avith a long gun firing out to sea on seA'eral occasions 
during the morning. Induced by the offer of a roAvard the Avhole party started off in the hopes of securing 
this reckless individual ; in this, hoAvever, they failed, though returning Avith a couple of gunners, AA'hose 
unstained Aveapons and pouches of small shot proclaimed their innocence, and Avhose evidence confirmed 
that of the workmen as to the escape of the man previously alluded to. On our AA'ay back toAvards 
Brighton we happened to run alongside a shrimp-boat that had been traAvling in the same bay, and one 
of our men replied in ansAver to their inquiry “ What sport ? ” that Ave had had a narroAV escape of being 
bagged ourselves. “ What ! ” exclaimed the fisherman, “ you have been shot at ? Look at our sails — tAvo 
bullets through the for’sail, tAVO betAveen the masts, and another under the counter. My mate says : ‘ Up 
traAvl, Joe, and let’s hook it. ‘Xo,’ says I; ‘may as Avell be shot as starved. Let the beggar shoot.’” 
This doubtless Avas the Avork of the same “ cuss,” avIio, as a Yankee Avould express it, must have had “ snakes 
in his boots ” that day. To offer any explanation for such conduct is utterly beyond my poAver, though 
I have heard of similar cases of insane thoughtlessness occurring along other parts of our coasts : I can 
noAV only regret we failed in our attempt to secure the perpetrator. 
