reach the extreme northern limit of its range in that portion
of Denmark. In the rest of Europe it occurs as a migrant,
becoming rare in the south, and in the Mediterranean. In
winter it has been found on the elevated lakes of Persia;
and Severtzoff says that it breeds in Turkestan. Its range
extends across Siberia to Japan; and Swinhoe obtained an
example at Amoy in China. It breeds in British North
America, where Richardson says it is very common in the
Fur countries, frequenting every lake with grassy borders,
and in the northern portions of the United States; and in
winter it is generally distributed further south; stragglers—
one of which is now in Canon Tristram’s collection—having
been known to visit the Bermudas (Zool. 1877, p. 492). A
few young birds are said by Reinhardt to have been obtained
in the southern part of Greenland. In Iceland, according
to Professor Newton, it is very generally distributed on lakes
throughout the western half, and probably throughout the
whole of the island; arriving about the same time as the
Red-throated Diver, and, after breeding, leaving in the
autumn.
The late Mr. Proctor, subcurator of the Durham University
Museum, who visited Iceland in the summer of 1837,
observed that “ this bird frequents the fresh waters there,
and breeds amidst the reeds and other rank herbage. The
nest is large, and floats on the surface of the water, with
which it rises, and falls. It is composed of a mass of reeds
and other aquatic plants. The eggs vary in number from
two to four, and are, when just laid, of a bluish-white ; but
they soon become stained by the materials of which the
nest is composed. The size of the egg is one inch and
three-quarters long, by one inch and one-quarter in breadth.
The young birds, when first hatched, are covered with grey-
coloured down. No sooner does the old bird perceive danger
from any intruder, than she instantly dives, and emerges at
thirty or forty yards’ distance. One day during my sojourn
in Iceland, having observed one of these birds dive from its
nest, I placed myself with my gun at my shoulder, waiting
its re-appearance. As soon as it emerged I fired and killed
it, and was surprised to see two young ones, which it seems
had been concealed beneath the wings of the parent bird,
drop upon the water. I afterwards shot several other birds
of this species, all of which dived with their young under
their wings. The young were placed with their heads
towards the tail, and their bills resting on the back of the
parent bird.”
Mr. Morgan’s bird, killed in May, in the plumage of the
breeding-season, has the beak black, both mandibles of
horn-coloured white at the tip ; forehead and crown black;
hides vermilion-red, with a very narrow white ring; from
the base of the upper mandible to the eye, and from thence
for the space of an inch behind the eye, the feathers are of
a rich yellowish-chestnut, the latter elongated, forming a
tuft; from the chin the feathers on the throat, cheeks, and
sides of the neck, are also elongated, forming a ruff of rich
dark brown; back of the neck, and all the upper surface of
the body dark brown ; the secondaries of the wings alone are
white, but scarcely seen unless the wings are extended;
neck in front rich reddish-chestnut, becoming rather darker
towards the bottom ; breast and belly shining silvery-white ;
sides under the wings, and the flanks dusky, mixed with
some chestnut streaks; legs and toes dark greenish brown
outside, varied with yellowish-green on the edges and inner
surface. The whole length of the bird is rather more than
thirteen inches. From the carpal joint to the end of the
wing five inches and a half.
In winter the beak and irides as described in summer;
the upper part of the head dark brown; the lower part with
the chin pure white, a line from the gape to the eye, and
from thence along the lower edge of the ear-coverts, being
the line of division between the two colours; back of neck
and upper surface of the body dark brown ; lower part of the
neck in front greyish-white; under surface of body and legs
as in summer.
The figure of the male in summer plumage in the illustration
at the head of this subject was taken from Mr.
Morgan’s bird, and the Author’s note made on an examina