THE NATURAL HISTORY 
[LETT. 
These birds, as tliey stand numerically, belong to tlie following 
Linnaean genera : — 
1, 2, 3, Turdus: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. 
4, Corvus : Anas. 
5, 6, 7, ScolojMx: 15, 16, Loxia. 
8, Columha: 17, Ampelis. 
Birds that sing in the night are but few : — ■ 
Nightingale, Lu.Hnia: {" Mu^of.""' '"'^''^ 
Woodlark, AJauda arhorca : Suspended in mid air. 
T 1 ( Passer arundina- ") . i i -n 
Less reed-s]\arrow, < )■ Ainoii<>- reeds and willows. 
^ ' ( ceus minor : ) ^ 
I should now proceed to such birds as continue to sing after 
Midsummer, \mt, as they are rather numerous, they would exceed 
the bounds of this paper ; besides, as this is now the season for 
remarking on that subject, I am willing to repeat my observa- 
tions on some birds concerning the continuation of whose song 
I seem at present to have some doubt. 
Selborne, June 30, 1769. 
[As one of my neighbours was traversing Wolmer Forest from 
Bramshot, across the moors, he found a large uncommon bird 
fluttering in the heath, but not wounded, which he brought home 
alive. On examination it proved to be Colymhus glacialis, Linn, 
the great speckled diver or loon, which is most excellently 
described in " Willughby's Ornithology." 
Every 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 adjoining, 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 pod ex, 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 
