THE DIVERS. I 77 



Eg-g-s. — One. Pure wliite, and nearly pyriform in shape. 

 Axis, i"59-i"8i inch; diani., fi2-i"28 inch [Ogilvie Grant). 



THE DIVERS. ORDER COLYMBIFORMES. 



The skeleton of the Divers shows a very well-marked and 

 curious character in the extension of the cnemial process of the 

 tibia. The posterior process of the ilium is also approximated 

 to such an extent that the sacrum is almost entirely concealed. 

 There are no anchylosed vertebrae in front of the anchylosed 

 sacral vertebrae, and the median xiphoid process of the sternum 

 projects behind the lateral processes. The number of cervical 

 vertebrae is fourteen or fifteen. 



The palate is schizognathous, and there is no defined spinal 

 feather-tract on the neck. Uoth the ambiens and femoro- 

 caudal muscles are present. 



Besides these anatomical characters, the Divers are easily 

 recognised by their long pointed bills and webbed feet, the 

 hind-toe being on the same level as the other toes. The 

 tarsus is compressed, and the feet have a curious backward 

 position, so that it is impossible for the birds ever to stand 

 upright on them. Considerable discussion has recently taken 

 place on this subject both in England and America, but the 

 entire concensus of opinion among field ornithologists of the 

 present day appears to be that the Divers never attempt to 

 walk, and that the most they can do on land is to shuffle to and 

 from their nests with a seal like motion of their bodies. I have 

 been permitted by Mr. Abel Chapman to use the notes on the 

 subject which he forwarded to our mutual friend Mr. Howard 

 Saunders. 



He writes: — "Loons and Grebes 7iever sit upright on land. 

 First, because they never go on to land, properly so called ; 

 and secondly, because they cannot sit upright if they tried ever 

 so. Their legs will not bend that way. Cullingford* tells me 

 that he always has to break the bones of the birds' feet when 

 people insist on having their specimens mounted in an upright 

 position." After some criticism of the figures in Yarrell's 

 "British Birds," and those in other works on natural history, 



* Tlie well-known taxidermist of Durham. 



