The Diver.'] OF ORKNEY. 115 



" themselves by their lightness, or whether by striking against 

 " the bottom in the manner of a leap, or by some peculiar 

 " motion of their legs, I cannot determine. That they dive 

 " to the bottom is clear, for that in the stomachs, both of the 

 " greater and lesser kind, we have found both grass and other 

 " weeds, and in the lesser kind nothing else, though both prey 

 " upon fish. Their bills are made strait and sharp, for the 

 " easier cutting the water, and striking their prey. Could 

 " we see the motions of their legs and feet in the water, then 

 " we should better comprehend how they ascend, descend, 

 " and move to and fro, and discern how wisely and artifici- 

 " ally their membranes are formed and adapted to those 

 uses." Vide Rays Wisd. of God. 



It is probable they easily rise from the bottom, by their 

 bodies being specifically lighter than the water; and, as a proof 

 of this, I have often observed them labour much more in go- 

 ing down than coming up ; both wings and legs were exerted 

 to the utmost, but when they rose both seemed at rest. 



