322 COLYMBID.E. 



hand. The bird had received an injury in the head, which 

 had deprived one eye of its sight, and the other was a little 

 impaired ; but, notwithstanding, it could, by incessantly 

 diving, discover all the fish that was thrown into the pond. 

 In defect offish it would eat flesh. It is observable that the 

 legs of this bird are so constructed and situated, as to render 

 it incapable of walking upon them. This is probably the 

 case with all the Divers, as well as the Grebes. When this 

 bird quitted the water, it shoved its body along upon the 

 ground like a seal, by jerks, rubbing the breast against the 

 ground ; and returned again to the water in a similar manner. 

 In swimming and diving, the legs only are used, and not 

 the Avings, as in the Guillemot and Auk tribes ; and by their 

 situation so far behind, and their little deviation from the 

 line of the body, it is enabled to propel itself in the water 

 with great velocity in a straight line, as well as turn with 

 astonishing quickness." 



Mr. Thomas Nuttall, of Boston, who kept one for some 

 time, gives the following account of its manners while in his 

 possession : — " A young bird of this species which I ob- 

 tained in the Salt Marsh at Chelsea Beach, and transferred 

 to a fish-pond, made a good deal of plaint, and would some- 

 times wander out of his more natural element, and hide and 

 bask in the grass. On these occasions he lay very still until 

 nearly approached, and then slid into the pond and uttered 

 his usual plaint. When out at a distance he made the same 

 cautious efforts to hide, and would commonly defend himself 

 in great anger, by darting at the intruder, and striking power- 

 fully with his dagger-like bill. This bird with a pink colour- 

 ed iris, like albinos, appeared to suflTer from the glare of 

 broad daylight, and was inclined to hide from its effects, 

 but became very active towards the dusk of the evening. 

 The pupil of the eye in this individual, like that of nocturnal 

 animals, appeared indeed dilatable ; and the one in question 



