OBSER VA TIONS ON BIRDS. 3 1 9 



adjoining, in order that it may pierce the water ; the wings 

 are placed forward, and out of the centre of gravity, for a 

 purpose which shall be noticed hereafter ; the thighs quite 

 at the podex, in order to facilitate diving ; and the legs are 

 quite flat, and as sharp backwards almost as the edge of a 

 knife, that in striking they may easily cut the water; 

 while the feet are palmated, and broad for swimming, yet so 

 folded up when advanced forward to take a fresh stroke as 

 to be full as narrow as the shank. The two exterior toes 

 of the feet are longest ; the nails flat and broad, resembling 

 the human, which give strength, and increase the power of 

 swimming. The foot, when expanded, is not at right 

 angles to the leg or body of the bird; but the exterior 

 part inclining towards the head forms an acute angle with 

 the body; the intention being not to give motion in the 

 line of the legs themselves, but by the combined impulse of 

 both in an intermediate line, the line of the body. 



Most people know, that have observed at all, that the 

 swimming of birds is nothing nore than a walking in the 

 water, where one foot succeeds the other as on the land ; 

 yet no one, as far as I am aware, has remarked that diving 

 fowls, while under water, impel and row themselves for- 

 ward by a motion of their wings, as well as by the impulse 

 of their feet ; but such is really the case, as any person may 

 easily be convinced, who will observe ducks when hunted 

 by dogs in a clear pond. Nor do I know that any one has 

 given a reason why the wings of diving fowls are placed so 

 forward ; doubtless, not for the purpose of promoting their 

 speed in flying, since that position certainly impedes it, 

 but probably for the increase of their motion under water, 

 by the use of four oars instead of two : yet were the wings 

 and feet nearer together, as in land-birds, they would, when 

 in action, rather hinder than assist one another. 



