GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, OH LOON. 2S7 
, “ Northern divers,” says Hearne, “ thoug’h common 
■•I Hudson’s Bay, are by no means plentiful ; they are 
Seldom found near the coast, but more frequently in 
fresh water lakes, and usually in pairs. They build 
their nests at the edge of small islands, or the margins 
^f lakes or ponds ; they Lay only two eggs, and it is very 
®onimon to lind only one pair and their young in one 
^>eet of water : a great jiroof of their aversion to society, 
•hey are known in Hudson’s Bay by the name of 
•oons.”* 
, The great northern diver mea.sures two feet ten 
***ches from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, and 
hiur feet six inches in breadth ; the bill is strong, of a 
Hossy black, and four inches and three quarters long to 
^hc corner of the mouth ; the edges of the bill do not 
I exactly into each other, and are ragged, the lower 
f*>andible separates into two branches, which are united 
h a thin elastic membrane, and arc easily movable 
horizontally or receding from each other, so as to form 
j* wider gap to facilitate the swallowing of laige fish ; 
•ongue, bifid ; irides, dark blood rod; the head and half 
the length of the neck, arc of a deep black with a 
*frocn gloss, and purple reflections ; this is succeeded by 
^ band consisting of interrupted white and black lateral 
1 ^hripes, which encompasses the neck, and tapers to a 
boint on its fore part, without joining, — this band 
h'oasures about an inch and a half in its widest part, 
to appearance, is not continuous on the hack part 
the neck, being concealed by some thick, overhanging, 
j|‘»ck feathers, but, on scp.-irating the latter, the band 
I visible : the feathers which form these narrow 
are white, streaked dowTi their centre with 
and, w’hat is a remarkable peculiarity, their 
pi'oject above the common surface ; below this a 
ij'Oad band of dark glossy green and violet, which is 
. ^ided behind with the plumage of the back ; the lower 
rtrt of the neck and the sides of the breast, are ribbed 
^he same manner as the band above ; below the chin 
* Hfabne’s Journey, p. 429 , quarto. 
^'OL. m. R 9 
