272 OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS 



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 42 inches. A person at- 

 tempted 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 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 cannot 

 walk at all. They are called by Linnaeus compedes, because they 

 move on the ground as if shackled or fettered.* 



STONE CURLEW. 



ON the 27th of February 1788, stone curlews were heard to 

 pipe ; and on March 1st, after it was dark, some were passing 

 over the village, as might be perceived by their quick short note, 

 which they use in their nocturnal excursions by way of watch- 

 word, that they may not stray and lose their companions. 



Thus, we see, that retire whithersoever they may in the winter, 

 they return again early in the spring, and are, as it now appears, 

 the first summer birds that come back. Perhaps the mildness of 

 the season may have quickened the emigration of the curlews 

 this year. 



* These accurate and ingenious observations, tending to set forth in a proper light the won- 

 derful works of God in the creation, and to point out his wisdom in adapting the singular form 

 and position of the limbs 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 for 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 different 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 particularly 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 awitus- What surprised me most was that the first 

 of these birds was found alive o*> 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 walking.* 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. MARK-WICK. 



* When once upon the wing, these birds contrive to advance without much difficulty.- En. 



