OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS, 297 



is sharp, and smaller than the part of the neck adjoining, in 

 order that it may pierce the water ; the wings are placed for- 

 ward, 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 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 more 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 forward 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 pur- 

 pose 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. 



This colymbus was of considerable bulk, weighing 1 only three 

 drachms short of three pounds avoirdupois. It measured in 

 length from the bill to the tail (which was very short) two 

 feet, and to the extremities of the toes, four inches more ; and 

 the breadth of the wings expanded was forty-two inches. A 

 person attempted to eat the body, but found it very strong 

 and rancid, as is the flesh of all birds living on fish. Divers, or 

 loons, though bred in the most northerly parts of Europe, yet 

 are seen with us in very severe winters ; and, on the Thames, are 

 called sprat loons, because they prey much on that sort of fish. 



