WATER FOWL. 403 



the same provision of oil is rather detrimental in 

 warm countries, as it turns rancid, and many of 

 them die of disorders which arise from its putre- 

 faction. In general, however, water fowl can be 

 properly said to be of no climate, the element 

 upon which they live being their proper residence. 

 They necessarily spend a few months of summer 

 upon land, to bring up their young ; but the rest 

 of their time is probably consumed in their migra- 

 tions, or near some unknown coasts, where their 

 provision offish is found in greatest abundance. 



Before I go to the third general division of 

 water fowls^ it may not be improper to observe, 

 that there is one species of round-billed water 

 fowl, that does not properly lie within any of the 

 former distributions. This is the Gooseander ; a 

 bird with the body and wing shaped like those of 

 the penguin kind, but with legs not hid in the 

 belly. It may be distinguished from all others 

 by its bill, which is round, hooked at the point, 

 and toothed, both upper and under chap, like a 

 saw. Its colours are various and beautiful ; how- 

 ever, its manners and appetites entirely resemble 

 those of the Diver. It feeds upon fish, for which 

 it dives ; and is said to build its nest upon trees, 

 like the heron and the cormorant. It seems to 

 form the shade between the penguin and the 

 goose kind ; having a round bill, like the one j 

 and unembarrassed legs, like the other. In the 

 shape of the head, neck, and body, it resembles 

 them both. 



