360 



WATER BIRDS. 



The general conformation of the aquatic birds, exhibits fully 

 the fitness of their destination to that element in or near which 

 their lives are entirely spent. The body of the swimmers is 

 arched beneath, and bulged like the hulk of a ship ; and this 

 figure was perhaps copied in the first construction of vessels : 

 their neck, which rises on a projecting breast, represents the 

 prow ; their short tail, collected into a single bunch, serves as a 

 rudder ; their broad and palmated feet perform the office of oars ; 

 and their thick down glistening with oil (which entirely invests 

 them) is impenetrable by humidity, and at the same time enables 

 them to float more lightly on the surface of the water. The 

 habits and economy of these birds correspond also with their or- 

 ganization : they never seem happy but in their appropriate 

 element ; they are averse to alight on the land ; and the least 

 roughness of the ground hurts their soles, which are softened by 

 the perpetual bathing. The water is to them the scene of plea- 

 sure and repose, where all their motions are performed with fa- 

 cility, and where their various evolutions are traced with elegance 

 and space. View the swans moving sweetly along or sailing 

 majestically with expanded plumage upon the wave ! they gaily 

 sport : they dive and again emerge with gentle undulations, and 

 soft energy ; expressive of those sentiments which are the foun- 

 dation of love. 



The life of aquatic birds is, therefore, more peaceful and less 

 laborious than that of most other tribes. Smaller force is re 

 quired in swimming than flying ; and the element which they 

 inhabit perpetually yields them subsistence : they rather meet 

 with their prey than search for it ; and often a friendly wave 



