The Natural History of Selborne 411 



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 backward, 

 and so out of all centre of gravity, that these birds cannot walk at 

 all. They are called by Linnasus 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 creation, and to 

 point out His wisdom in adapting the singular form and position of 

 the limb of this bird to the particular mode in which it is destined 

 to pass the greatest part of its life in an element much denser than 

 the air, do Mr. White credit, not only as a naturalist, but as a man 

 and as a philosopher, in the truest sense of the word, in my opinion ; 

 for were we enabled to trace the works of nature minutely and 

 accurately, we should find, not only that every bird, but every 

 creature, was equally well adapted to the purpose for which it was 

 intended ; though this fitness and propriety of form is more striking 

 in such animals as are destined to any uncommon mode of life. 



I have had in my possession two birds, which, though of a differ- 

 ent genus, bear a great resemblance to Mr. White's colymbus, in 

 their manner of life, which is spent chiefly in the water, where they 

 swim and dive with astonishing rapidity, for which purpose their 

 fin-toed feet, placed far behind, and very short wings, are particu- 

 larly well adapted, and show the wisdom of God in the creation as 

 conspicuously as the bird before mentioned. These birds were the 

 greater and lesser crested grebe, podiceps cristatus et auritus. What 

 surprised me most was, that the first of these birds was found alive 

 on dry ground, about seven miles from the sea, to which place there 

 was no communication by water. How did it get so far from the 

 sea ? its wings and legs being so ill adapted either to flying or walk- 

 ing. The lesser crested grebe was also found in a fresh water pond 

 which had no communication with other water at some miles' distance 

 from the sea. MARKWICK. 



