96 COLYMBID^. 



PYGOPODES. COLYMBIDjU. 



CoLYMBUS GLACiALis (Linnseus*). 

 THE GKEAT NORTHERN DIVER. 



Colymhus glacialis. 



CoLTMBUS, Linnwusf. — Bill about as long as the head ; strong, straight, 

 rather compressed, pointed. Nostrils basal, lateral, linear, perforate. Legs 

 thin, the tarsi compressed, placed very far backwards, and closely attached to 

 the posterior part of the body ; toes three in front, united by membranes, one toe 

 behind, with a small membrane, articulated upon the tarsus ; the claws flat. 

 Wings short, the first primary quill-feather the longest. Tail short and rounded. 



Of the genus Colymhus, whicli is confined to the Northern 

 Hemisphere, there are three British species, called Divers, 



* Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 221 (1766). 



+ Tom. cit. p. 220. Linn.T?us included in his genus the Guillemots and the 

 Grebes. 



