Part L in the GK'^kTio n. i 45 



2. The Colymbi, ox Doicchers^ or Loo?2S, whofe 

 Bodies are admirably fitted and conformed for 

 diving under Water, being cover'd with a very- 

 thick Plumage, and the Super/ides of their Fea- 

 thers fo fmooth and flippery, that the Water 

 cannot penetrate, or moiften them ; whereby 

 their Bodies are defended from the Cold, the 

 Water being kept at a Diftance, and fo poifed^ 

 jhat by a light Impulfe they may eafily afcend 

 in it. Then their Feet are fituate in the hind- 

 moft Part of their Body, whereby they are en- 

 abled, fliooting their Feet backwards^ and ftri- 

 king the Water upwards, to plunge themfelves 

 down into it with great Facility, and likewife 

 to move forwards therein. Then their Legs are 

 made flat and broad, and their Feet cloven into 

 Toes with appendant Membranes on each Sidej 

 by which Configuration they eafily cut the Wa- 

 ter, and are drawn forward, and fo take their 

 Stroke backwards -, and befides> I conceive, that 

 by means of this Figure, their Feet being mov'd 

 to the Right and Left-hand, ferve them as a 

 Rudder to enable them to turn under Water: 

 For fome conceive, that they fwim eafier under 

 Water than they do above it. How they raife 

 themfelves up again^ whether their Bodies e- 

 merge of themfelves by their Lightnefs^ or 

 whether by ftriking againft the Bottom, in Man- 

 ner of a Leap, or by fome peculiar Motion of 

 their Legs, I cannot determine. That they 

 dive to the Bottom is clear ; for that in the Sto- 

 machs both of the greater and lefler Kinds we 

 found Grafs and other Weeds, and in the lef- 



L . ■ fer 



