344 BRITISH BIRDS. 



primary quills, with all the outside edge of the 

 wing, including the ridge and a portion of the 

 coverts, are brownish black : the middle part of 

 the wing is white, crossed by a narrow black stripe, 

 which is formed by the tips of the lesser coverts: 

 tail dark hoary brown: legs short, of a reddish 

 yellow colour, with the webs dusky: the inner and 

 hinder toes are furnished with lateral webs : on the 

 latter these Webs are large and flapped. Willough- 

 by says, "the windpipe hath a labyrinth at the 

 divarication, and besides, above, swells out into a 

 belly or puff-like cavity." 



The female differs from the male, in having the 

 head brown, the back ash-coloured, and in wanting 

 the white spot before the eye. The young males 

 resemble the female till after the first moult. 



These birds do not congregate in large flocks, 

 nor are they numerous on the British shores, or on 

 the lakes in the interior. They are late in taking 

 their departure northward in the spring, the speci- 

 mens sent for the use of this work, having been 

 shot in April. In their flight they make the air 

 whistle with the vigorous quick strokes of their 

 wings; they are excellent divers, and seldom set 

 foot on the shore, upon which, it is said, they walk 

 with great apparent difficulty, and, except in the 

 breeding season, only repair to it for the purpose 

 of taking their repose. These birds frequent the 

 fresh water, as well as the sea, being found on the 

 Shropshire meres during winter.* 



The attempts which were made by M. Baillon to 

 domesticate these birds, quite failed of success. 



* Pennant. 



