410 The Natural History of Selborne 



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 fiat 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 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 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 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 : 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 

 drachms short of three pounds avoirdupois. 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 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 



