OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS, 321 



colymbus in their manner of life, which is spent chiefly in 

 the water, where they swim and dive with astonishing 

 rapidity, for which purpose their fin-toed feet, placed far 

 behind, and very short wings, are particularly well adapted, 

 and show the wisdom of God in the creation as conspicu- 

 ously as the bird before mentioned. These birds were the 

 greater and lesser crested grebe, podiceps cristatus et auritsu. 

 What surprised me most was, that the first of these birds 

 was found alive on dry ground, about seven miles from the 

 sea, to which place there was no communication by water. 

 How did it get so far from the sea? its wings and legs 

 being so ill adapted either to flying or walking. The lesser 

 crested grebe was also found in a fresh-water pond which 

 had no communication with other water, at some miles' 

 distance from the sea. — Markwick. 



STONE-CURLEW. 



On the 27th February 1788 stone-curlews were heard to 

 pipe ; and on March 1st, after it was dark, some were pass- 

 ing over the village, as might be perceived by their quick 

 short note, which they use in their nocturnal excursions by 

 way of watchword, that they may not stray and lose their 

 companions. 



Thus, we see, that retire whithersoever they may in the win- 

 ter, they return again early in the spring, and are, as it now 

 appears, the first summer birds that come back. Perhaps the 

 mildness of the season may have quickened the emigration 

 of the curlews this year. 



They spend the day in high elevated fields and sheep- 

 walks, but seem to descend in the night to streams and 

 meadows, perhaps for water, which their upland haunts do 

 not aftbrd them. — White. 



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