OBSERYATIONS ON BIEDS. 
279 
fitness and propriety of form is more striking in such animals as are 
destined to any uncommon mode of life. 
I have had in my possession two birds, which, though of a diiFerent 
genus bear a great resemblance to Mr. White's Colymbus, 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 conspicuously 
as the bird before mentioned. These birds were the greater and lesser 
crested grebe, podiceps cristatus et auritus. What surprised me most 
was, that 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 com- 
munication with other water at some miles' distance from the sea. 
Markwiok. 
STONE-CURLEW. 
On the 27th of February, 1788, Stone Curlews were heard to pipe : 
and on March 1st, after it was dark, some were passing over the 
village, as might be perceived by their quick short note, which they 
use in their nocturnal excursions by way of watchword, that they may 
not stray and lose their companions. 
Thus, we see, that retire whither soever they may in the winter, they 
return again early in the spring, and are, as it now appears, the first 
summer birds that come back. Perhaps the mildness of the season 
may have quickened the emigration of the curlews this year. 
They spend the day in high elevated fields and sheep-walks ; but 
seem to descend in the night to streams and meadows, perhaps for 
water, which their upland haunts do not afibrd them. — White. 
On the 31st of January, 1792, T received a bird of this species which 
had been recently killed by a neighbouring farmer, who said he had 
frequently seen it in his fields during the former part of the winter : 
this perhaps was an occasional straggler, which by some accident was 
prevented from accompanying its companions in their migration. 
' Markwiok. 
THE SMALLEST UNCRESTED WILLOW WEEK 
The smallest uncrested willow wren, or chiff-chafi^, is the next early 
summer bird which we have remarked ; it utters two sharp piercing 
notes, so loud in hollow woods, as to occasion an echo, and is usually 
first heard about the 20th of March. — White. 
This bird, which Mr. White calls the smallest willow wren or chiff- 
chafi*, makes its appearance very early in the spring, and is very 
common with us , but I cannot make out the three diff'erent species of 
