instead of two ; yet, were the wings and feet nearer 

 together, as in land-birds, they would, when in ac- 

 tion, rather hinder than assist one another. 



This colymbus was of considerable bulk, weighing 

 only three drachms short of three pounds avoirdu- 

 pois. It measured in length from the bill to the tail 

 (which was very short) two feet, and to the extremi- 

 ties 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. 



The legs of the colytnbi and mergi are placed so 

 very backward and so out of all centre of gravity, 

 that these birds cannot walk at all. They are called 

 by Linnaeus compedes^ because they move on the 

 ground as if shackled or fettered. 



A man brought me a landrail or daker-hen, a bird 



so rare in this district that we seldom see more than 



one or two in a season, and those only in autumn. 



This is deemed a bird of passage by all the writers: 



yet from its formation seems to be poorly qualified 



for migration ; for its wings are short, and placed so 



forward and out of the centre of gravity, that it flies 



in a very heavy and embarrassed manner, with its 



legs hanging down ; and can hardly be sprung a sec- 



104 



