270 NATATORES. 



are to shoot along wholly immersed in the water, the fore 

 part is pointed. There is much to be learned from the study 

 of their structure, in the shape of the body itself, in the feet, 

 the wings, and the bill, but we have space only to recom- 

 mend to the subject. 



The number even of British birds in the order and the 

 diversity of their modes of life, render some subdivision 

 necessary, more especially in a short sketch, as the general 

 notices will save repetition with the individual. Perhaps the 

 subdivision most accordant with the habits of the birds is 

 that of Cu-vier. But we shall alter the arrangement, so as to 

 conclude with the pelagic or wide-sea birds. He makes four 

 families : divers, long-wings, entire-feet, and flat-bills. We 

 shall take the last of these second, and the second last, and 

 then we shall have : 



1. DIVERS. Birds, with the wings short and rounded, 

 the head generally small and produced, the legs placed far 

 back and acting wide from each other ; and capable of getting 

 wholly under water, and making less or more progress in 

 motion while immersed. 



2. DABBLERS. Birds with the bill flat and covered with a 

 sentient membrane, wings of moderate length, bodies punt- 

 shaped, finding part of their food by dabbling in the ooze at 

 the bottoms of the shallows while the body is afloat. 



3. FISHERS. Birds with powerful wings, some of them 

 descending on their prey from a considerable height in the 

 air, and all of them having the feet so constructed as to walk 

 upward to the surface of the waters when they plunge below 

 it for their prey. 



4. SKIMMERS. Birds which glide along the surface of the 

 water," sometimes resting on the surface by means of their 

 feet, but generally using the wings, which are very long and 

 pointed. 



