177 



the upper mandible originates a broad bar of dull 

 orange-yellow ; the back part of the neck and upper 

 part of the back are dark brown, dashed with ferru- 

 ginous ; the back, scapulars and rump are dusky, 

 faintly edged with cinereous ; the wing-coverts are 

 brown and white; the breast is bright ferruginous 

 chesnut ; the rest of the under parts are glossy satin 

 white ; the legs are dusky, pale on the inside. (Mon- 

 tagu.) * 



The length is 13* inches. 



ORDER VIII. PALMIPEDES. 



Toes webbed. 



" Most people who have exercised any degree of obser- 

 vation, know that the swimming of birds is nothing more 

 than walking in the water, where one foot succeeds the 

 other as on land; but 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 ; yet such is really the case, 

 as any one 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 ; doubtless not for the purpose of 

 promoting their speed in flying, since that position cer- 

 tainly impedes it ; but probably for the increase of their 

 motion under water, by the use of four oars instead of two, 



A a 



