The following account is quoted by Y a n ' c l l , as given by M r . Thoma<
N u t t a l l , of Boston, who k e p t another for some t i m e : — ' A young bird
of this species which I obtained in the Salt Marsh at Chelsea Beach,
a n d transferred to a fish-pond, made a good deal of plaint, and
w o u l d sometimes wander out of his more natural element, and hide
a n d bask in the grass. On these occasions he lay very still until
n e a r l y approached, and then slid into the p o n d and uttered his usual
p l a i n t . When out at a distance he made the same cautions efforts In
h i d e , and would commonly defend himself in great auger, by darting
at the i n t r u d e r , and striking powerfully with his dagger-like bill.
Thi s bird, with a p i n k coloured iris, like albinos, appeared to suffer
from the glare of broad daylight, and was inclined to hide from iteffects,
but became very active towards the d u s k of the evening. The
p u p i l of the eye in this individual, like that of nocturnal animal.,
a p p e a r e d indeed dilatable, and the one in question often put down
his head and eyes into the water to observe the situation of his prey,
' t h i s bird was a most expert and indefatigable diver, and remained
down sometimes for several minutes, often swimming under wrater, and,
as it were, riving with the velocity of an a r r ow in the air. Though
at length inclining to become docile, and showing no alarm when
visited, it constantly betrayed its wandering habits, and every night
was found to have waddled to some hiding-place, where it seemed
t o prefer hunger to the loss of l i b e r t y , and never could be restrained
from exercising its instinct to move onwards to some secure or more
s u i t a b l e asylum.'
T h e s e b i r d s have the faculty of sinking the body below the surface
of the water if suddenly alarmed, the head and neck alone beini
e x t a n t . When diving for food, one minute appears to be the usual
l e n g t h of time that they remain below; less, of course, if successful
in their p u r s u i t . It is said, however, by Meyer, that they can remain
u n d e r n e a t h the surface for the long space of three minutes and a
half, and that when pursued, the b i r d manages to dive with ease for
one h u n d r e d and fifty or a couple of h u n d r e d yards. In swimming
and diving the legs only APPEAR to be used in g e n e r a l , and not the
wings, t h o u g h the latter arc also, according to Audubon. They progress
with very great speed if p u r s u e d , and dive with instantaneous
q u i c k n e s s . They resort to this mode of escape in preference to att
e m p t i n g flight, no doubt for the reason elsewhere spoken of. Mr.
Selby asserts, from observation, that t h e y can swim at t h e r a t e of more
than seven miles an hour. They consort together in small parties of
four or five. They are often to be seen floating and drifting on the
water as if asleep, the head pillowed back among the feathers. In
t h e roughest weather they are equally at ease, and fish among the
heavy surf with fearless confidence. They cannot walk, properly
speaking, but are only able to shuffle along, neither can they rise on
t h e wing from the ground. Even on the water they arc obliged to
s c u r r y forwards for some distance before being able to get up. This
is 'accompanied by a frequent repetition of its call-note. When a
p a r t y of six or eight of these birds rise together, they mount high
in the air, and follow one another in a l i n e'
They fly in a strong and able manner, and Dr. R i c h a r d s o n observes
that when on the wing t h e y advance swiftly. If t h e i r nest b e t h r e a t e n e d,
they exhibit natural alarm, and wheel in circles round the intruder.
T h e y feed on small crabs and Crustacea g e n e r a l l y , frogs, insects and
their larv;c, flat-fishes, h e r r i n g s , sprats, and other kinds of fish. The
smaller ones they gorge whole, the larger they are obliged to swallow
piecemeal. They destroy, as will r e a d i l y b e conceived, a g r e a t q u a n t i t y,
so that where they are sojourners, their absence rather than their
presence is desiderated by the fishermen, fourteen perch were found
in the throat of one. In stormy weather they sutler much from want
of food, their prey having p r o b a b l y removed into deeper water.
The note, which is loud and PLAINTIVE, is said by Meyer to resemble
tin WORDS -who, who,' or ' w h e e , whee,' frequently repeated. Other
sounds are also uttered, both of a deep and a high character. One is
a clear ' k a w k .'
The nest of this fine bird is placed close to tin; w a t e r ' s edge, so
as to admit of an immediate r e t r e a t , if necessary, to that element.
The eggs arc two, or sometimes, according to A u d u b o n , three in
number. Their colour is a d a r k olive greenish b r o w n , w i t h a few spots
of a darker shade, or purple reddish.
Both birds take their turns in sitting, and when the young are
hatched, continue an equal and watchful care over them as long as it
is required.
Male; weight, twelve pounds, or as much as fourteen; length, two
feet six to two feet n i n e i n c h e s ; b i l l , black, t h e t i p paler, it is ' n e a r ly
three inches long, much compressed, t a p e r i n g , the upper mandible
gently arched, the lower one channeled beneath, and deepest in the
middle, the angle sloping g r a d u a l l y upwards to the point.' Iris, red.
Head, crown, neck, nape, chin, aud throat, deep black, with strong
reflections of green and p u r p l e ; on the front of the upper part of
t h e last-named there is a crescent-shaped band, and lower down on
. e a c h side an oblong space of the same colour, b a r r e d with black, the
feathers having raised white margins. Breast, white, s t r e a k e d on the
sides with dusky g r e y i s h white, the feathers h a v i n g raised white margins.