332 OBSERVATIONS ON 



which he brought home alive. On examination, it proved 

 to be Colymbus glacialis, LINN., the great speckled diver 

 or loon, which is most excellently described in Willughby's 

 Ornithology. 



Eyery part and proportion of this bird is so incomparably 

 adapted to its mode of life, that in no instance do we see 

 the wisdom of God in the creation to more advantage. The 

 head is sharp and smaller than the part of the neck ad- 

 joining, in order that it may pierce the water; the wings 

 are placed forward and out of the centre of gravity, for a 

 purpose which shall be noticed hereafter ; the thighs quite 

 at the podex, in order to facilitate diving ; and the legs are 

 flat, and as sharp backwards almost as the edge of a knife, 

 that in striking they may easily cut the water ; while the 

 feet are palmated, and broad for swimming, yet so folded 

 up when advanced forward to take a fresh stroke, as to be 

 full as narrow as the shank. The two exterior toes of the 

 feet are longest; the nails flat and broad, resembling the 

 human, which give strength and increase the power of 

 swimming. The foot, when expanded, is not at right 

 angles to the leg or body of the bird ; but the exterior part 

 inclining towards the head forms an acute angle with the 

 body ; the intention being not to give motion in the line of 

 the legs themselves, but, by the combined impulse of both, 

 in an intermediate line, the line of the body. 



Most people know, that have observed at all, that the 

 swimming of birds is nothing more than a walking in the 

 water, where one foot succeeds the other as on the land ; 

 yet no one, as far as I am aware, has remarked that diving 

 fowls, while under water, impel and row themselves forward 

 by a motion of their wings, as well as by the impulse of 

 their feet; but such is really the case, as any person may 

 easily be convinced, who will observe ducks when hunted 

 by dogs in a clear pond. Nor do I know that any one has 

 given a reason why the wings of diving fowls are placed so 

 forward : doubtless, not for the purpose of promoting their 

 speed in flying, since that position certainly impedes it ; but 

 probably for the increase of their motion under water, by 

 the use of four oars instead of two ; yet were the wings and 



