THE GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 
195 
on the 19th of that month an adult bird was seen at the entrance 
of the bay. 
On the 24th of April, 1850, a great northern diver (in its 
third year’s plumage) was captured off Island Magee, .on a hook 
baited with “ buckie ” ( Buccinum undatum) for cod, and brought 
uninjured to Belfast. The bait was taken, at a depth of from 
thirty to forty fathoms. The bird was purchased by a gen- 
tleman to keep along with a number of other species in his pos- 
session ; but when sent home for that purpose, its most melan- 
choly cry — somewhat resembling the howl of a dog as he “ bays 
the moon,” though not very long-drawn — wrought so upon the 
feelings of the lady of the house that she besought its liberty, and 
a few hours afterwards — in the privacy of night — it was consigned 
to its native element. When placed on the sea, it dived for 
about fifty yards, and then emerging, assumed for a moment an 
upright position, flapped its wings, gave a loud cry (or “ crow”), 
as if of defiance, and seeing the boat approaching, dived again. 
It was not farther followed. Although the wings were perfect, 
this bird did not attempt to rise into the air from the ground,, 
nor from a very large vessel of water in which it was placed. 
Quickly, however, its way was made in a swimming manner along 
the floor of a shop in which it was temporarily placed, while 
its mournful note, frequently repeated, attracted such a crowd, 
that the bird was hurried away with all possible speed. 
A great northern diver, shot by a bird -preserver in Belfast (its 
weight 14 lbs.) came under my inspection some months after- 
wards, when lie believed it to have been killed in July, but had 
no note on the subject. It was obtained at Garmoyle, a deep pool 
in the bay, about three miles from the town, and a favourite 
haunt of the species in winter, when two or three are frequently 
to be seen at one view. Proceeding from this place to the 
entrance of the bay, the same day on which the specimen was 
procured, my informant saw a considerable number of these 
birds dotting the water singly here and there all the way : there 
may have been forty altogether. Dr. Fleming has remarked, 
that l< the young birds are occasionally seen in summer in the 
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