RED-THKOATED DIVER. 
167 
In Rutland. — I am enabled to add this rare species to the list of birds 
for this county, from a specimen which 1 have examined in the possession of 
the Right Hon. Grerard Noel, and which, if not immature, is, probably, an 
adult in autumnal plumage, and was shot on one of the ponds at Exton 
about 1850. 
RED-THROATED DIVER. Golymbus septentrionalis, Linnaeus. 
A straggler inland, chiefly in winter, and nearly always in immature 
plumage. — According to Mr. Babington (Supplement ‘ Potter ’), one in immature 
plumage was killed at Grroby, by the keeper of the Earl of Stamford. In October, 
1885, at Carlton Curlieu Hall, I saw an immature specimen contained in a case, 
on the back of which was written: — “From Saddington Reservoir, Dec. 16th, 
1840, shot by Mr. Hayes Marriott.” Harley wrote: — “Captured during the 
storm which prevailed on the 4th January, 1854, in several parts of the county ; 
but in no instance, I believe, in its perfect state of plumage.* It has been 
frequently met with on the Soar, about I.oughborough, and also on the Trent. 
It has likewise been shot on the Wreake ; and on such pools as those of 
Groby, Saddington, and Dishley.” T. Freer, of Aylestone, shewed me a fully 
adult specimen (red-throated), which he stated he shot in 1869 (Sept. 10th) 
in the canal between the “ West ” and “ Mill Lane ” Bridges, Leicester, which 
specimen I have since acquired for the Museum. Mr. G. H. Storer informs 
me that two (probably a pair) in winter plumage, shot on Cropstone Reservoir, 
are preserved at the Reservoir Hotel, but lie did not know the date, and I 
cannot obtain any further information. 
Mr. Davenport wrote me that, on the 2nd March, 1889, “as the wife of a 
man named Wm. King, living at Burton Overy, went out at the back door 
to feed her Ducks and Chickens, she found, squatting amongst them, a strange 
bird, which she succeeded in capturing by throwing her apron over it. It was 
kept for a few days, fed fairly well on such food as could be procured for it, 
did not appear to be at all shy, and, although helpless on the ground, when put 
into a tub of water its motions were very graceful, and it swam and dived with 
freedom.” Before it died, however, Mr. Davenport rode over to see it, and kindly 
notified me of the occurrence, thus putting me into communication with the 
possessor, and enabling me to acquire for the jMuseum a fine male specimen 
of the Red-Throated Diver in winter plumage. Being in rather poor condition, 
its weight was but 2 lbs. 10 oz., total length 27 inches, but probably this 
excessive length was due to the fact that it had been hung up for some two 
days by the bill. 
In Rutland,— This species, like the preceding, I am enabled to add 
* Probably Harley did not know that in winter, its plumage is similar to that of the 
immature bird, the red throat persisting only in rare cases. 
