332 
OBSERVATIONS ON 
whicli he brought home alive. On exaiDinatioD, it proved 
to be Colymlms 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 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 
i:he 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 
