. Natural history. Zoology. 254 A VES—ORDER COL YMBIFORMES. The Divers.— Order Golymhiformes,. The downy nestlings are striped, and in the first plumage the dabehieksare brown above. In the autumn they are to a certain extent migratory, and are shot in our tidal harbours ; but in mild winters they do not desert their native homes. In summer, both sexes don a nuptial plumage, with a yellow patch on the bill and a black breast, against which tlie rufous colour of the face and neck forms a striking contrast. In all the grebes, the brighter colours and the ornamental tippets and crests are dropped
. Natural history. Zoology. 254 A VES—ORDER COL YMBIFORMES. The Divers.— Order Golymhiformes,. The downy nestlings are striped, and in the first plumage the dabehieksare brown above. In the autumn they are to a certain extent migratory, and are shot in our tidal harbours ; but in mild winters they do not desert their native homes. In summer, both sexes don a nuptial plumage, with a yellow patch on the bill and a black breast, against which tlie rufous colour of the face and neck forms a striking contrast. In all the grebes, the brighter colours and the ornamental tippets and crests are dropped during the winter season. The divers are birds of the Northern Hemi- sphere, few in number and arctic in habitat. Four species are known, all of which are found in Great Bri- tain, two of them nesting within our limits. The red-throated diver (Golyinhus septeidrionalis) is one of them, and the black-throated diver (C arcticus) is the second. The great northern diver (0. glacialis) is a more or less frequent visitor in winter, and the white-billed diver (C adamsi) has occurred a, few times. This is chiefly known as an inhabitant of North America and Iceland, as the great north- ern diver which breeds in the Old World will probably be found to be 0. adamsi. The habits of all the divers are much the same. On the water they are at home, swimming about and diving with the great- est of ease ; but on land they are very awkward, and the backward position of their legs seems to make it impossible for the birds ever to stand upright. In fact, they seem to shuffle along the ground with a snake-like motion, and never walk. They excel all the grebes in their power of flight, though, as a rule, they trust to their swimming and diving powers to escape from danger, and are often to be seen swimming in the sea far away from land ; and they are also able to submerge their bodies, so that only the head and neck is exposed, and they can reniam under water for an astonishing time, the great n
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