Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/72

46 appearance of having been eaten by moths, the shafts of some of the feathers alone remaining. On the 21st an immature Black-throated Diver was killed in the Sound. Although so similar to the Great Northern Diver in both its immature and winter plumage, I think this species may always be distinguished by its smaller size and the form of its bill, which is more slender and has less of an angle on the lower mandible. The ridge of the upper mandible also is slightly more curved or arched, while the top of the head and back of the neck is of a more pure and uniform gray, without any indication of the dusky band always more or less observable on that of the Northern Diver, even in its immature and winter dress.

The severe and long-continued gales in December brought an unusual number of Great Northern Divers to our coasts, and during that month I examined no less than twelve specimens, in the flesh, which had been sent to the Plymouth and Stonehouse birdstuffers for preservation: I also observed as many more in our bays and estuaries. The local papers, too, recorded the capture of several on various parts of the coast. Some Redthroated Divers were also obtained, but they were not nearly so plentiful as the Great Northern. During a heavy gale on December 5th a Gray Phalarope was seen by myself and others swimming close to the rocks near the Devil's Point, Stonehouse: it was in perfect winter plumage, and very tame, but being constantly persecuted and pelted with stones, it frequently rose and flew a short distance, each time uttering a feeble note or cry, described by the bystanders as a kind of squeak or whistle: this sound I am sorry to say I did not myself hear, being unfortunately slightly deaf, nor was I so close to the bird as some others were. I may here mention that the Gray Phalarope is rarely seen on the coast of Devon so late in the year. Cormorants and Shags were very numerous in December, frequenting the bays and estuaries during the day, and returning, singly, or in small parties, to the cliffs and high rocks towards dusk. One day I watched a Shag struggling with a large "Father-lasher" (Cottus scorpius), which it did not contrive to swallow for a quarter of an hour: Divers and Cormorants generally seem to have much trouble with this kind of fish, on account, I suspect, of its large and well-armed head. Strange to say, whilst writing this, I laid down my pen to watch with my glass a large Northern Diver in difficulties with a