512 PALMIPEDES. 



FAMILY II. 



ColymbidyE. TJte Divers. 



Gen. Charac. — Bill more or less lonjj, much compressed, straight, and acute; 

 the nostrils placed in a longitudinal groove, with the opening basal, linear, 

 or rounded; the wings moderate, with the first quill longest ; the tail very 

 short ; the tarsi short and much compressed ; the toes long, and the three 

 anterior ones more or less united together by a membrane, the hind toe 

 short, and margined by a smaE membrane. 



The birds of tliis family display a fitness for diving 

 even more decided tlian is to be found eitlier in the 

 diving Ducks or in the Mergansers^ having the 

 characteristics with which such habits are connected 

 carried out to a still greater degree of completeness. 

 Their plumage is deep, close, silky, and extremely 

 glossy. The bill is long and sharp, the wings, small, 

 concave, and composed of stiff feathers, are used for 

 the purpose of giving additional impetus to the 

 body when diving. The legs are placed as far 

 back as possible, the tarsus is flattened so as to cut 

 the water, and the toes, either lobated or webbed, 

 are so arranged as to fold up into a small compass 

 when drawn towards the body, in order to give the 

 back stroke. The tail is short or wanting, and the 

 body flat ; hence it appears to float deeply on the 

 surface of the water. Necessarily embarrassed and 

 awkward upon land, the Colymbidge are alert and 

 vigorous in their congenial element, from which 

 they can seldom be forced to take wing, trusting 

 rather to diving than to flight for safety ; they rise, 

 indeed, with difiiculty, but having attained a due 

 elevation, sweep along very rapidly, and are capable 

 of a long-sustained flight. Their nest is always 

 placed on the immediate margin of the water, amid 

 the floating herbage that abounds in the localities 

 they generally inhabit. These birds swim and dive 

 with equal ease, and can remain submerged for a 

 long period. This family includes the True Divers, 

 the Grebes, and the Sun- Grebes. 



