BRITISH BIRDS. 
189 
FIRST SPECKLED DIVER. 
SPRAT LOON, GREATEST-TAILED DIVER, OR SPECKLED 
LOON. 
{^Colymbus Jlellatiis, Lin . — Le petit Plongcon, BufF.) 
This fpecies generally weighs about two pounds 
and a half, and foinewhat exceeds two feet in length, 
and three and a half in breadth. The bill is three 
inches long, of a light colour, and has rather a 
call upv/ards ; the crown of the head and upper 
parts of the body are dulky, inclining to grey ; and, 
excepting the hinder part of the neck, leffer coverts 
and quills, which are plain, the reft of the plumage 
IS fpeclded all over with fmall white fpots ; thofe on 
the fcapulars and middle wing-coverts are the larg- 
eft, and marked more diftindly on the margins of 
each feather, near to their tips. The fore part of 
the neck is of an alh-colour : cheeks, chin, throaty 
