454 
COLYMBIDJE. 
two of their young ones on a very small piece of water 
upon an island, and whilst endeavouring to secure them, 
the old birds continued to pass to and fro over our heads 
with great rapidity. Their first approach was wary, and 
far above us, the distance gradually diminishing as their 
fears became greater, till they came within a few yards 
of us; we frequently saw pairs of them passing over the 
country in an evening, and at a great height; and at 
midnight, whilst quietly gliding down one of these calm 
fiords in our boat, or at rest upon our oars, the singularly 
wild, loud, melancholy-sounding cry of the Red-throated 
Diver, would often break the deep and delicious repose of 
all around us. 
I have chosen the three eggs figured for the diversity 
their hues. The tint of each may apply to all, at times, 
although the eggs of the Red-tliroated Diver are more 
frequently green, and those of the black-throated of 
deep, red-brown, than those of the others. 
