lxxiv Journal of Proceedings.
to be published in the future would be drawn up in accordance with the
arrangement he had suggested.
Mr. Meldola said Professor Boulger's plan seemed to be such a
natural and reasonable one that it was likely to meet with general
acceptance. It was highly desirable that all county lists should be
arranged upon some uniform and natural system.
The Secretary read the two following notes on behalf of Mr.
Christy.
Notes on the Occurrence of the Red-throated Diver (Colymbus
septentrionalis, l.) and the black-throated Diver (c. arcticus,
L.) at Chelmsford in the Winter of 1876-77.
By B. Miller Christy.
The occurrence of two individuals belonging to different species of
the genus Colymbus—the Diver-tribe—at such an inland locality as
Chelmsford within the short space of three weeks may be looked upon
as an event of considerable interest. Both came more or less under my
own observation, and, as neither of them has been adequately recorded,
I wish to present a few remarks on them to the members of this Club,
although the circumstances took place several years ago.
It seems that between six and seven o'clock on the morning of the
2nd of December, 187(5, during a heavy storm of rain and a strong S.E.
wind that had blown all night, a certain Mrs. Suckling, residing in a
small house by the roadside, exactly opposite the entrance to Springfield
jail, became aware that things were not going on quite as usual in the
garden surrounding her house. This garden is a small enclosure well
walled, or otherwise fenced about, adjoining the much frequented public
road, and very near the town of Chelmsford—in fact, quite amongst the
suburbs. Hearing strange noises, she immediately went out to
reconnoitre, when she found, to her surprise, a strange visitor in the
shape of a large bird which was evidently inclined to make itself at
home and treat her with all familiarity, for it commenced pecking at
her dress, and afterwards followed her into a small outhouse—a kind
of pigstye, I believe, without any roof. In this pigstye it seemed
perfectly contented to remain, and there it stopped for the next fortnight
without, apparently, making an effort to fly away. During this time it
was honoured by many visitors, some of whom were sufficiently learned
to pronounce it to be a Bed-throated Diver (Colymbus septentrionalis, L.).
It was commonly supposed to be a female bird, and being, of course, in
winter plumage, exhibited none of the red upon the throat. It had no
fear, though it would peck at any one approaching it too closely, using
its bill partly open and giving a sort of bite. When first taken it
showed a great liking for sprats, but after a while it rejected these,
having acquired a strong taste for earthworms, of which it devoured
many. While it lived there it doubtless proved a good thing for Mrs.
Suckling, and in the end it was purchased for 5s. by a Chelmsford
gentleman, and killed for stuffing. The ' Chelmsford Chronicle,' in
speaking of it, said " A very similar bird, but one not quite so odd in its
ways, made its appearance in Springfield about this time last year."
What species this bird may have belonged to I cannot at all say. The
Red-throated Diver is a common bird on the Essex coast in winter, and
it goes there by the name of " Sprat-loon." Its unusual appearance at
Chelmsford is accounted for by the high S.E. wind blowing at the time,