157 
the Petrel . Genus 36, Diomedia, the A lba~ 
tross. Genus 37, Pelecanus, the Pelecan. 
Genus 38, Plotus, the Darter. Genus 39, 
Phaeton, the Tropic Bird. Genus 40, 
Colymbus, the Guillemot, Diver, and 
Grebe. Genus 41, Larus, the Gull. Ge- 
nus 42, Sterna, the Tern. Genus 43, 
JRynchopSy the Skimmer. 
The general conformity of these Birds, 
exhibits fully the fitness of their destination 
to that element in or near which their 
lives are entirely spent. The body of the 
Swimmers or Web-Footed Birds is arched 
beneath, and bulged like the hulk of a 
Ship, (and this figure it is not very impro- 
bable to conjecture gave the first idea to 
our rude ancestors in the construction of 
their vessels) the neck, which rises on a 
projecting breast, may be said to represent 
the prow ; their short tail, collected into a 
single bunch, serves as a rudder ; their 
broad and palmated feet, perform the office 
of oars; and their thick down glistening 
with oil (which entirely invests them) is 
impenetrable by humidity, and at the same 
