436 ON VARIOUS PARTS 



Every part and proportion of this bird is so incomparably 

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

 wisdom of God in the creation to more advantage. The head 

 is sharp and smaller than the part of the neck adjoining, in 

 order that it may pierce the water ; the wings are placed 

 forward and out of the centre of gravity for a purpose 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 forward 

 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 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 im- 

 pulse 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 

 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 w r ater, 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 con- 

 vinced, 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 avoirdupois. It mea- 



