OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS. 279 



fitness and propriety of form is more striking in such animals as are 

 destined to any uncommon mode of life. 



I have had in my possession two birds, which, though of a different 

 genus bear a great resemblance to Mr. White's 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 conspicuously 

 as the bird before mentioned. These birds were the greater and lesser 

 crested grebe, podiceps cristatus et auritus. 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 1 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 com- 

 munication with other water at some miles' distance from the sea. 



MARKWICK. 



STONE-CURLEW. 



On the 27th of February, 1788, Stone Curlews were heard to pipe : 

 and on March 1st, after it was dark, some were passing 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 whither soever they may in the winter, 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 afford them. WHITE. 



On the 31st of January, 1792, 1 received a bird of this species which 

 had been recently killed by a neighbouring farmer, who said he had 

 frequently seen it in his fields during the former part of the winter : 

 this perhaps was an occasional straggler, which by some accident was 

 prevented from accompanying its companions in their migration. 



MARKWICK. 



THE SMALLEST UNCRESTED WILLOW WEEK 



The smallest uncrested willow wren, or chiff-chaff, is the next early 

 summer bird which we have remarked ; it utters two sharp piercing 

 notes, so loud in hollow woods, as to occasion an echo, and is usually 

 first heard about the 20th of March. WHITE. 



This bird, which Mr. White calls the smallest willow wren or chiff- 

 chaff, makes its appearance very early in the spring, and is very 

 common with us , but I cannot make out the three different species of 



