278 
OBSERYATlOlSrS ON BIEDS. 
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 inter- 
mediate 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 feet nearer together, as in land-birds, they would, when in action, 
rather hinder than assist one another. 
This colymbus 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 they are called sprat loons, because they prey much on that 
sort of fish. 
The legs of the colymhi and mergi are placed so very backward, and 
so out of all centre of gravity, that these birds cannot walk at all. 
They are called by Linnseus compedes, because they move on the ground 
as if shackled or fettered. — White. 
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 only 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 
