NATURAL 
found a large uncommon bird flut- 
tering in the heath, but not wound- 
ed, which he brought home alive. 
On examination it proved to be 
Colymous giacialis, Linn.: the 
great speckled diver or loon, which 
is most excellently described in 
Wiltoughby’s ornithology. 
Every part and proportion of this 
bird is so incomparably adapted to 
its mode. of life, that in-no in. 
stance do we see the wisdom of 
God in the creation to more ad- 
vantage. ‘he head is sharp, and 
smelicr than the part of the neck 
adjoining, in order that it may 
pierce the water; the wings are 
placed forward, and out of the cen- 
tre of gravity, for a purpose which 
shall be noticed hereafter ; the thighs 
quite at the podex, in order to fa- 
cilitate diving; and the legs are 
flat, and as sharp backwards al. 
most as the edge of a knife, that 
in striking they may easily cut the’ 
water; while the feet are palmat- 
ed, and broad for swimming, yet 
so foided up when advanced for- 
ward 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 resembiing the human, which 
HISTORY. [393 
give strength and increase the 
power of swimming. The foot, 
when expanded, is not at right | 
angles to the leg or body of the 
bird: but the exierior part inclin- 
ing towards the head forms an a. 
cute angle with the body ; the in- 
tention being not to give motion 
in the line of the legs themselves, 
but by the combin-d 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 1s nothing more than a 
waiking in the water, 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 aa 
by the impulse of their feet: but 
such is really the case, as any per- 
son may easily be convinced, who 
will observe ducks when hunted 
by dogs inaclear pond. Nor do 
I know that any one has given a 
reason why the wings of diving 
fowls are placed so forward: doubt. 
less, not for the purpose of pro. 
moting’ their speed in flying, since 
that, position certainly impedes it ; 
The following table exhibits the average heat of places on the level of the sea, 
computed by the celebrated astronomer, protessor Meyer, for every five degrees of 
Jatitude. 
Latitude, Average Temperature. 
o— _ 84° 
5 — - aod 
1.5— Sic Bh 
1 = she 
20 — —_ 78 
25 — _ 74k 
30 — _- 71 
B35 on --- 67 
4 — => AR 
45 == -- 58 
By comparing this table with the preceding, 
Latitude, Average Temperature. 
50 — Se 
65 -— -“ 49 
60 =-< ied 45 
65 — _ 41} 
TQ == ~~ 36 . 
15 -- -_ 35¥ 
80 -- — 33h 
BS joes — Sof 
90 = _ $2 
it is easy to discover, for any la- 
titude, the altitude of the curve of congelation, or where the average tempetature 
is 32° a-eE, E. 
but 
