282 
ANATID^. 
THE EED-THEOATED DIVEE. 
Colymbus septentrionalis. 
EAIN-GOOSE. 
This Diver, though much less numerous than the last species, 
lias from time immemorial been a constant resident in these 
islands, though not very common in the breeding season. 
Fresh arrivals certainly do occur in spring and autumn, the 
birds resting for awhile on their way northwards and south- 
wards, but in suitable locabties a few remain throughout the 
whole winter. 
The habits much resemble those of the ISTorthern Diver, 
with the exceptions that it is far less shy, is more ready to 
take wing, and often wanders from the sea far up the burns, 
and even into the fresh- water lochs themselves; in which 
latter the larger species is scarcely ever observed, except in the 
breeding season. I have a specimen which was caught by 
hand in a burn, and I once myself saw another in a similar 
situation, and chased it for about two hundred yards, the whole 
of which distance it traversed beneath the surface without 
rising for breath. The ground was very miry, but even had 
it been hard and dry, fast running would have been needed to 
have enabled me to head the bird, which I distinctly observed 
flying under water, not merely paddling with its wings, as it 
sometimes does when feeding. Another marked point of 
difference in habit between this species and the preceding is 
the infrequency wdth wEich a solitary specimen of the Eed- 
throated Diver is to be seen ; but I am not quite sure how 
long they continue in pairs or families. 
In summer and autumn this Diver is often seen on the 
wing, usually in pairs at the former season, and later on accom- 
panied by its young. Its local name “ Eain-Goose,” has been 
bestowed upon it in consequence of its cry being supposed to 
indicate the near approach of rain. It is, however, chiefly 
during rain that it delights to circle irregularly and at a con- 
