GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, OR LOON. 259 
In the account which some of the European orni- 
thologists give of their northern diver, we presume 
there is an inaccuracy. They say it measures three 
feet six inches in length, and four feet eight in breadth, 
and weighs sixteen pounds. If this be a correct state- 
ment, it would lead to the surmise that our diver is a 
different species ; for of several specimens which we 
examined, the best and largest has been described 
for this work, the admeasurement of which bird comes 
considerably short of that of the European mentioned 
above. The weight, as has been stated, was eight 
pounds and a half. 
According to Temminck, the adult male and female 
are alike in plumage. All the females which have 
passed under my examination differed from the old 
males; and it is the universal opinion among our 
sportsmen who reside on the coast, where the loons are 
common, that the adults of both sexes may always be 
distinguished by their garb. However, in confirmation 
of Temminck’ s opinion, I can adduce the authority of 
the Prince of Musignano, Charles Lucian Bonaparte, 
who has informed me, that he has in his collection a 
female which was shot in the Delaware, and which differs 
in no respect from the adult male. 
On a re-examination of the Supplement to the 
Ornithological Dictionary of Montagu, I find upon this 
subject the following remarks, which should seem to 
put the question at rest respecting the identity of the 
European and American species : — “ It should appear 
that the size of this species has been commonly exag- 
gerated, or they must vary very materially, since those 
which have come under our examination did not exceed 
ten pounds ; and an old or matured male measured only 
two feet eight inches. A young female, before the 
plumage was perfected, weighed eight pounds six ounces, 
and measured two feet seven inches in length. 
“ A northern diver, taken alive, was kept in a pond 
for some months, which gave us an opportunity of 
attending to its manners. In a few days it became 
extremely docile, would come at the call from one side 
