BIRDS, 
feet nearer togetlier^ as in land birds, they would, when in 
action, rather hinder than assist one another. 
This Colymhus was of considerable bulk, weighing only 
three drachms short of three pounds avoirdupois. It 
measured in length from the bill to the tail (which was very 
short) two feet; and to the extremities of the toes four 
inches more ; and the breadth of the wings expanded was 
forty- two inches. A person attempted to eat the body, but 
found it very strong and rancid, as is the flesh of all birds 
living on fish. Divers or loons, though bred in the most 
northerly parts of Europe, yet are seen with us in very 
severe winters ; and on the Thames are called sprat loons, 
because they prey much on that sort of fish. 
The legs of the Golymhi and Mergi are placed so very 
backward, and so out of all centre of gravity, that these birdsr 
cannot walk at all. They are called by Linnaeus compedes, 
because they move on the ground as if shackled or fettered.^ 
^ These accurate and ingenious observations, tending to set forth in a 
proper light the wonderful works of God in the creation, and to point 
out His wisdom in adapting the singular form and position of the limbs 
of this bird to the particular mode in which it is destined to pass the 
greatest part of its life in an element much denser than the air, do Mr. 
White credit, not onlj as a naturalist, but as a man and as a philosopher, 
in the truest sense of the word, in my opinion ; for were we enabled to- 
trace the works of nature minutely and accurately, we should find, not 
only that every bird, but every creature, was equally well adapted to 
the purpose for which it was intended ; though this fitness and propriety 
of form is more striking in such animals as are destined to any uncommon 
mode of life. i 
I have had in my possession two birds, which, though of a different 
genus, bear a great resemblance to Mr. White's Colymhus, in their 
manner of life, which is spent chiefly in the water, where they swim and 
dive with astonishing rapidity, for which purpose their fin -toed feet,^ 
placed far behind, and very short wings, are particularly well adapted, 
and show the wisdom of God in the creation as cons])icuously as the bird 
before mentioned. These birds were the greater and lesser crested, 
grebe, Podiceps cristatus et auritus. What surprised me niost was, tliat 
the first of these birds was found alive on dry ground, about seven miles 
from the sea, to which place there was no communication by water. 
How did it get so far from the sea ? its wings and legs being so ill 
adapted either to flying or walking. The lesser crested grebe was also 
found in a fresh water pond which had no communication with other 
water, at some miles distance from the sea. — Markwick. 
