BRITISH BIRDS. 
185 
IMBER. 
GREAT DOUCKER, OR EMBERGOOSE. 
[Colymlus Immer^ Lin . — Le Grand Plongeon, Buff.) 
The Imber meafures from the tip of the beak to 
the end of the tail nearly three feet, and from tip 
to tip of the wings three feet eight inches. The 
bill is four inches and a quarter long, and of a dark 
horn colour. The upper parts of the plumage are 
dark brown, each feather on the back and wings 
edged with light brownifh afti : the front and crown 
of the head, and hinder part of the neck, are flight- 
ly broken with fpots of the fame light brownifh afh- 
colour : the cheeks and fides of the neck, to the 
breafl, are fpeckled with brown : near to the lower 
part of the neck the brown colour fpreads forward 
towards the front, which, as well as the throat, is 
white : the breafl and belly are alfo of a gloffy 
white : vent mottled with brown. The quills and 
tail are dufky, but the feathers on the latter are 
edged with dirty white : the legs are of a dark 
dingy lead colour. The plumage of the female is 
lefs diflin£l in its colours, being nearly of a dull 
brown on the upper parts, and dull white beneath. 
This fpecies is of nearly the fame manners and 
habits as the lafl : they are both excellent divers 
and fifhers, and are inhabitants of the fame north- 
ern countries ; but this is oftener met with farther 
VoL. II. t A a 
