BLACK-THROATED DIVER. 
451 
NAT A TORES. 
COLYMBTDjE. 
BLACK-THROATED DIVER. 
COLYMBUS ARCTICUS. 
PLATE CXXIII. FIG. II. 
For the pleasure of figuring this, a British specimen of 
the egg of the Black-throated Diver, I was indebted 
during the progress of the “ Oology ” to Mr. Selby, as well 
for his kindness in sending me a specimen of this rare 
egg from which to draw, as also for the particulars at¬ 
tending its first detection in this country. 
It was in the summer of 1834, during an excursion to 
explore the zoological productions of the county of Suther¬ 
land, that Mr. Selby was rewarded by discovering this 
beautiful species breeding upon most of the inland lochs. 
The eggs, which are two in number, were first found upon 
a small islet at the bottom of Loch Shin; they were upon 
the bare ground, and at about ten or twelve feet from the 
water’s edge. The bird was observed by Sir William 
Jardine, who formed one of the party, whilst in the act 
of incubation, and was seated upon its eggs in a hori¬ 
zontal position, and not upright like the cormorant, shag, 
and guillemot; and whilst still in this position, it also 
thrust itself forward when disturbed, and had thus worn 
with its breast a distinct tract to the margin, whilst 
launching itself, boat-like, into the lake. We did not 
see this species in Shetland, nor is it met with in Orkney; 
