BIRDS. 447 



GREAT SPECKLED DIVER, OR LOON. 



As one of my neighbours was traversing Wolmer 

 Forest from Bramshot across the moors, he found a 

 large uncommon bird fluttering in the heath, but not 

 wounded, which he brought home alive. On examina- 

 tion it proved to be Colymbus glacialis, LINN., the great 

 speckled diver or loon, which is most excellently de- 

 scribed in Willughby's Ornithology. 



Every part and proportion of this bird is so incom- 

 parably adapted to its mode of life, that in no instance 

 do we see the wisdom of God in the creation to more 

 advantage. The head is sharp and smaller 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 



evening, I shot at and plainly saw that I had wounded a partridge, but 

 it being late was obliged to go home without finding it again. The next 

 morning I walked round my land without any gun, but a favourite old 

 spaniel followed my heels. When I came near the field where I wounded 

 the bird the evening before, I heard the partridges call, and seeming to 

 be much disturbed. On my approaching the bar-way they all rose, some 

 on my right, and some on my left hand ; and just before and over my head, 

 I perceived (though indistinctly, from the extreme velocity of their mo- 

 tion) two birds fly directly against each other, when instantly, to my great 

 astonishment, down dropped a partridge at my feet: the dog immediately 

 seized it, and on examination I found the blood flow very fast from a 

 fresh wound in the head, but there was some dry clotted blood on its 

 wings and side ; whence I concluded that a hawk had singled out my 

 wounded bird as the object of his prey, and had struck it down the instant 

 that my approach had obliged the birds to rise on the wing : but the space 

 berween the hedges was so small, and the motion of the birds so instan- 

 taneous and quick, that I could not distinctly observe the operation. 

 MARKWICK. 



The merlin of my collection afforded a forcible example of the ruling 

 passion strong in death. It was shot while pursuing a yellowhammer, 

 and fell behind a hedge. On my friend advancing to the spot, he was 

 surprised to see the Citrinella flying towai-ds him, as if for protection. At 

 the same instant the falcon followed in pursuit, struck its quarry, and 

 both fell dead together. It was found on examination to have received 

 a full charge of shot. G. D. 



