The Divers. 499 



COLYMBID^E (THE DIVERS). 



This very remarkable family of Diving birds shows a most 

 complete structure, and a general formation thoroughly adapted 

 to their submerged habits, for all the species which comprise it 

 pass a considerable portion of their lives, not only on the surface 

 of the water, but beneath it. The form of body is remarkably 

 long and oval ; the neck long and tapering, the head small, and 

 the beak straight, hard, and sharp-pointed ; the legs are placed 

 at the extreme end of the body, and the feet are large, thus 

 acting as paddles propelling from the stern ; the tarsus is re- 

 markably thin or laterally compressed, and the feet, though 

 furnished with membranes, have the toes so articulated as to 

 fold into a very small compass when drawn towards the body, 

 after making the necessary stroke, thus offering the least possible 

 resistance in the water. By this arrangement they are enabled 

 to pass rapidly through the water beneath the surface, and can 

 remain a long time submerged ; but on land they are awkward 

 and ungainly enough, standing quite upright, and resting upon 

 the whole length of the leg from the foot to the first joint, re- 

 minding one of the kangaroo, and when surprised or alarmed 

 they shuffle into the water on their breasts, somewhat after the 

 manner of the seals. But they rarely come on shore except at 

 the breeding season, and then they place their nests at the 

 water's edge. Though their wings are short and their bodies 

 heavy, they can fly with astonishing strength and swiftness, yet 

 the flight is necessarily laboured ; but, once in the water, none 

 are more active and rapid, and even graceful, in their movements 

 than the Divers. Many of them are quite tail-less, and others 

 have but rudimentary apologies for tails ; but perhaps the most 

 admirable provision for their subaqueous habits centres in their 

 plumage, which is not only thick, downy, and soft, but has a 

 glossy, silky lustre, which renders it so completely waterproof 

 that prolonged immersion has no effect in penetrating beneath it. 

 There are but two genera belonging to this family, the Grebes 

 and the Divers, and we have instances of both as having occurred 

 in this county. 



322 



