A LABRADOR SPRING 



is a bird that appears to be in danger of sacri- 

 ficing aerial for subaqueous flight, and illus- 

 trates the inconveniences of this line of evolu- 

 tion. Nichol * says of this bird, after describing 

 its short flights in the air and its diving: " In 

 appearance it reminds one forcibly of the little 

 auk. . . . The wings are very small and weak, 

 the bird, doubtless, is losing the power of 

 flight." 



In the case of the existing auks and of the 

 other birds that habitually use the wings alone 

 in diving, it would be interesting to determine 

 whether they are able to progress under water 

 as fast as those birds that use the feet alone, 

 for the auks are trying to make the same tool 

 work for two purposes, to propel them in the 

 air as well as in the water. One is impressed 

 with the imperfection of their wings for both 

 purposes, when one watches a puffin en- 

 deavouring to get out of the way of a stearrer. 

 First the bird dives and flies under \\ater. 

 Then in alarm it rises to the surface and at- 

 tempts to ascend into the air on its wings, but 

 unless there is a strong wind to act on its small 

 aeroplanes, it soon gives up the attempt and 



1 Three Voyages of a Naturalist, London, 1908, p. 160. 

 200 



