318 OBSEllYATIONS ON BIEDS. 



On eiramination it proved to be colymhus glacialis, Linn., the 

 great speckled diver, or loon, which is most excellently 

 described m "Willughby's Ornitliohgy. 



Every part and proportion of this bird is so incomparably 

 adapted to its mode of life, that in no instance do we see the 

 wisdom of Grod in the creation to more advantage. The 

 head is sharp, and smaller than the part of the neck adjoin- 

 ing, in order that it may pierce the water ; the wings are 

 placed forward, and ont of the centre of gravity, for a pur- 

 pose which shall be noticed hereafter ; the thighs quite at 

 the podex, in order to facilitate diving ; and the legs are 

 flat, and as sharp backwards almost as the edge of a knife, 

 that, in striking, they may easily cut the water ; while the 

 feet are palmated and broad for swimming, yet so folded up, 

 when advanced to take a fresh stroke, as to be full as 

 narrow as the shank. The two exterior toes of the feet are 

 longest; the nails flat and broad, resembling the human, 

 which give strength, and increase the power of swimming. 

 The foot, when expanded, is not at right angles with the leg 

 or body of the bii'd ; but the exterior part inclining towards 

 the head, forms an acute angle with the body ; the intention 

 being, not to give motion in the line of the legs themselves, 

 but, by the combined impulse of both in an intermediate line, 

 the line of the body. 



Most people know, that have observed at all, that the 

 swimming of birds is nothing more than a walking in the 

 wan:er, where one foot succeeds the other as on the land » 

 yet no one, as far as I am aware, has remarked that diving 

 fowls, while under water, impel and row themselves forward 

 by a motion of their wings, as well as by the impulse of their 

 feet : but such is really the case, as any person may easily 

 be convinced, who will observe ducks when hunted by dogs 

 in a clear pond. Nor do I know that any one has given a 

 reason why the wings of diving fowls are placed so forward : 

 doubtless, not for the purpose of promoting their speed in 

 flying, since that position certainly impedes it ; but probably 

 for the increase of their motion under water, by the use of 

 four oars instead of two ; yet were the wings and feet nearer 

 together, as in land birds, they would, when in action, rather 

 hinder than assist one another. 



This coh/mbus was of considerable bulk, weighing onl^ 



