KIRDS. 44f) 



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 backward, 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 12 . 



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 per- 

 ceived 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. 



12 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 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 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 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 asto- 

 nishing rapidity, for which purpose their fin toed feet, placed far behind, 

 and very short wings, are particularly well adapted, and show the wis- 

 dom 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 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. 

 MARKWICK. 



G G 



