THE BLACK-THROATED DIVER. 
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It is rather a shy bird, and not very easily approached, especially as it is a swift and 
active diver, vanishing below the surface at the least alarm, and emerging at some distance. 
It flies well, but, like most diving birds, walks badly. The food of the Smew consists of fish, 
small crustaceans, mollusks, and insects, which it obtains under the surface as easily as above 
it. The eggs of this species are warm buff in color, and they are generally eight or ten in 
number. 
The American Sheldrake (. Mergus merganser americanus) inhabits North America 
and Europe and Asia. It is called Goosander. Audubon says : “This species may be said to 
be a constant resident with us, as many individuals breed in the interior of the States of New 
York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine.” Like the Grebes, it has the power to sink 
backwards, and it dives expertly, remaining at times several minutes immersed. It swims so 
deeply when alarmed, and dives so quickly at the flash of the gun, it is extremely difficult to 
shoot it on the water. It breeds from Massachusetts northward, and along the Great Lakes. 
The female is smaller than her mate. The male is twenty-seven inches in length. This bird is 
common in Long Island Sound, and some winter there. 
Red-breasted Sheldrake (. Mergus serrator ), also called Fishing Duck. It inhabits the 
northern hemisphere. It is called by our northern gunners Pied Sheldrake. It is not so com- 
mon as the preceding. In -the Long Island Sound it is common — wintering there. Audubon 
says it is by choice mostly dependent on fresh water for its sustenance, but when winters are 
severe it is obliged to resort to the open bays and river mouths. It breeds in many of the 
Middle and Eastern States. 
The Hooded Sheldrake {Lophodytes cucculatus) inhabits the whole of North America, 
and Europe. In the Missouri region, says Dr. Coues, this is the more common of the three 
mergansers — AT. serrator being the rarest. It breeds in Dakota, and in the Upper Missouri 
River. It is called in New England Water Pheasant and Hairy Head, according to Giraud. 
It is more abundant in South Carolina, and common on the Ohio and Missouri rivers. It 
is a winter resident in Long Island Sound. It is much smaller than the preceding species, 
being only eighteen inches in length, and two feet in extent of wings. 
We now come to the family of Colymbidse, or Divers. 
The Great Northern Diver is common on northern coasts of Europe, where it may be 
seen pursuing its arrowy course through and over the water, occasionally dashing through the 
air on strong pinions, but very seldom taking to the shore, where it is quite at a disad- 
vantage. 
P erhaps there is no bird which excels the Northern Diver in its subaqueous powers, although 
the penguins and cormorants are equally notable in that respect. Its broad webbed feet are set 
so very far back that the bird cannot walk properly, but tumbles and scrambles along much 
after the fashion of a seal, pushing itself with its feet, and scraping its breast on the ground. 
• 
The Loon ( Colymbus torquatus) is a well-known bird, yet it is not often seen. It is large 
and striking in appearance, and the plumage in the male is very beautiful. The Great North- 
ern Diver is another quite common name for it. It measures nearly three feet in length, with 
an extent of wings of four feet. A variety called Adamsi is known, distinguished by its bill 
being yellowish-white. 
The Black -throated Diver (O', arcticus ) is a fine species, but considerably less in size 
than the preceding. It is notable for the bold alternate bars of black and white which dec- 
orate the back and tertials. A variety called Pacificus is like it, but is somewhat less in size. 
It is abundant on the Pacific coast. The Red-throated is distributed over the whole of the 
northern parts of both continents. A large chestnut-red patch on the throat distinguishes it, 
as well as its smaller size. 
