350 OBSERVATIONS 



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 to 

 the leg or body of the bird ; but the exterior part in- 

 clining 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 walk- 

 ing 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 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 colymbus was of considerable bulk, weighing 

 only three drachms short of three pounds avoirdu- 

 pois. . It measured in length, from the bill to the 

 tail (which was very short,) two feet, and to the 

 extremities of the toes four inches more ; and the 



