A LABRADOR SPRING 
body. Selous,t however, says of the English 
moorhen, another rail, that he “‘ may follow no 
fixed plan in his diving, for I have certainly 
seen him using his feet only under water, and 
I believe I have also seen him using his wings.” 
Very young spotted sandpipers, the familiar 
teter-tail of beaches fresh and salt, sometimes 
dive when hard pressed, and in so doing use 
both wings and feet. The water ousel uses both 
wings and feet under water. 
It would seem, therefore, that with a few 
exceptions diving birds tend to specialize in 
two directions, -— either towards the use of 
the feet alone, or of the wings alone. The 
question naturally arises as to which line is 
superior, which has produced the swiftest 
diving bird, — the line that has led to the 
use of the feet alone or that which has led to 
the use of the wings alone? It is evident that 
a method of diving which leaves the wings 
unimpaired in size or form for the use in the 
air is a desirable one, and that this is possible 
where the feet alone are used. In most fishes 
propulsion is from the rear by means of the 
tail, for the pectoral fins, which correspond to 
’ Bird Watching. London, 1901, p. 156. 
196 
