CHAPTER XI. 

 NATATORES (Sivimmers). 



As the fifth and last great Order of Birds contains those only 

 which are thoroughly aquatic, and as by far the larger portion of 

 these belong to the ocean as their peculiar habitat, it is manifest 

 that Wiltshire as an inland county can scarcely lay claim to an 

 extensive acquaintance with this Order. And yet with such ease 

 and celerity do they pass over the intervening land which 

 separates us from the coast, that the Ducks, Geese, and Gulls, 

 which enjoy a great power of wing, very frequently visit us, often 

 in considerable numbers; while even the heavy-flying, short- 

 winged Divers, Grebes, Auks, and Cormorants appear at rare 

 intervals as occasional visitants, and thus all the families which 

 compose the Order of Swimmers are more or less represented in 

 our county, and have been met with from to time in various 

 localities. 



The characteristics of this Order are to be seen in the long 

 boat-shaped body, so admirably adapted for swimming, or rather 

 sailing, on the water ; in the structure and position of the legs 

 and feet, placed so far behind as to cause an awkward gait on 

 land, but so well fitted to act as oars and paddles and rudders in 

 propelling the body over the surface of the water, and in the 

 close oily plumage, which is altogether impervious to wet. They 

 are therefore, for the most part, neither active nor graceful on 

 land, and their attempts at walking result in a waddle or a 

 shuffle, and some of them are little less agile on the wing ; but 

 in their own proper element the most clumsy on shore will be 

 nimble enough, diving, swimming, sailing, even in rough water, 



