THE MOVEMENTS. 
29 
they expire almost instantaneously. In former times 
the Icelanders used to catch the Eiderduck by means of 
nets spread under the surface of the water, which they 
baited; the birds, becoming entangled on rising, were 
soon suffocated. 
Quasi Divers dive when closely pursued, but return 
sooner to the surface and swim off half submerged, inas¬ 
much as they lie flat on the water, and using their 
wings, somewhat extended, as oars, advance with rapid 
rushes. Birds furnished with superabundant plumage 
are incapable of diving; and they almost prove this by 
never attempting to do so even when in the greatest 
danger:—as the Swan, Gull, Albatross, Phalarope and 
others ; especially young birds. The Pelican finds him¬ 
self similarly situated, by reason of the air-cells in the 
epidermis. 
Some birds dive by letting themselves fall from a 
considerable height into the water: — as the Osprey, 
Booby, Kingfishers, several Terns and others; but this 
class of diving is altogether different from the above. 
Swooping Divers are, while swimming on the surface of 
the water, unable to submerge themselves, and can only 
do so through the momentum given by a fall. They 
precipitate themselves into the water without using any 
of their limbs, quickly rising up from it again by means 
of a few flaps of the wings, and without the help of their 
feet. With the Booby the force of the swoop is so great 
that, according to Eaber, it not unfrequently dashes its 
head to pieces against submerged rocks. Lastly, others 
run under water from shallow spots, and remain quietly 
walking about on the bottom, like our pretty Dipper 
( Cinches ), which will at times fly through the wildest 
waterfall. 
