384 
BRITISH BIRm, 
like the Rook and the Heron; other authors^ 
ftricken with the fingular conformation of the feet* 
and ferrated claw, have afcribed properties to them 
which they do not poffefs, and believe that they 
hold their prey in one foot, while with the other 
they pufti forward to the fhore, or carry it thither, 
in the fame manner, on the wing : but this feems 
mere conjefture, for the feet of this tribe are not 
fitted for any fuch purpofe ; they are, like thofe of 
all the expert divers, placed far behind, and while 
by the pofition of thefe, and the powerful flrokes 
from their broad webs, the bird is enabled to pur- 
fue and overtake its flippery prey, the hooked fharp- 
edged beak is the only fit inftrument both to catch 
and to fecure it ; and there is no need to ufe the 
aukward expedient of removing it afterwards to the 
foot. 
At fea, or on the inland lakes, they make terri^ 
ble havoc. From the greateft height they drop 
down upon the objed of purfuit, dive after it with 
the rapidity of a dart, and with an almoft unerring 
certainty, feize the vidtim ; then emerging, with the 
fifli acrofs the bill, with a kind of twirl, throw it 
up into the air, and, dexteroufly catching it head 
. foremoft, fwallow it whole. 
While at reft on the fhore, commonly on the 
- ledge of a projecting rock, thefe birds fit more or 
* See the cut, page 389. 
