342 WHITE 



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 impulse of both in an intermediate line, 

 the line of the body. 



Most people know, that have observed at all, that the swim- 

 ming 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 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 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 : doubt- 

 less, 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 drams short of three pounds avoirdupois. It meas- 

 ured 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 breadth of the wings expanded was forty-two inches. 

 A person attempted to eat the body, but found it very strong 

 and rancid, as is the flesh of all birds living on fish. Divers, 

 or loons, though bred in the most northerly parts of Europe, 

 yet are seen with us in very severe winters ; and on the Thames 

 they are called sprat loons, because they prey much on that 

 sort of fish. 



The legs of the colymbi and mergi are placed so very back- 

 ward, and so out of all centre of gravity, that these birds can- 

 not walk at all. They are called by Linnaeus compedes, because 

 they move on the ground as if shackled or fettered. WHITE. 



These accurate and ingenious observations, tending to set 

 forth in a proper light the wonderful works of God in the crea- 





