392 



HISTORY OF 



the awkward manner in which a duck, either wild or tame, at- 

 tempts to change place . they must recollect with what sol'tness 

 and ease a gull or a kite waves its pinions, and with what a coil 

 and flutter the duck attempts to move them ; how many strokes 

 it is obliged to give, in ordei- to gather a little air ; and even when 

 it is thus raised,, how soon it is fatigued with the force of its 

 exertions, and obliged to take rest again. But the duck is not, 

 in its natural state, half so unwieldy an animal as the whole tribe 

 of the penguin kind. Their wings are much shorter, more 

 scantily furnished with quills, and the whole pinion placed too 

 forward to be usefully employed. For this reason, the largest 

 of the penguin kind, that have a thick heavy body to raise, can- 

 not fly at all. Their wings serve them rather as paddles to 

 help them forward, svhen they attempt to move swiftly, and in a 

 maimer walk along the surface of the water. Even the smallest 

 kinds seldom fly by choice ; they flutter their wings with the 

 swiftest efforts without making way ; and though they have but 

 a small weight of body to sustain, yet they seldom venture to 

 quit the water, where they are provided with food and protec- 

 tion. 



As the wings of the penguin tribe are unfitted for flight, their 

 legs are still more awkwardly adapted for walking. This whole 

 tribe have all above the knee hid within the belly : and nothing 

 appears but two short legs, or feet, as some would call them, 

 that seem stuck under the nimp, and upon which the animal is 

 very awkwardly supported. They seem, when sitting, or at- 

 tempting to walk, like a dog that has been taught to sit up, or to 

 move a minuet. Their short legs drive the body in progression 

 from side to side ; and were they not assisted by their wings, 

 they could scarcely move faster than a tortoise. 



This awkward position of the legs, which so unqualifies them 

 for living upon land, adapts them admirably for a residence in 

 Water. In that, the legs placed behind the moving body, pushes 

 it forward with the greater velocity j and these birds, like In- 

 dian canoes, are the swiftest in the water, by having their paddles 

 in the rear. Our sailors, for this reason, give these birds the 

 very homely, but expressive, name of arse-feet. 



Nor are they less qualified for diving than swimming. By 

 ever so little inclining their bodies forward, they lose their cen- 

 Ue of gravity ; and every stroke from their feet oidy tends to 



