[56] The guillemots in diving do not use their feet; so that they literally fly under the water. Their wings for this purpose are reduced to the smallest possible dimensions consistent with flight. The loons, on the other hand, while they employ their feet, rarely, if ever, use their wings. The subaqueous progression of the grebe resembles that of the frog.--Cuvier’s Animal Kingdom, Lond. 1840, pp. 252, 253.
[57] In the swimming of the crocodile, turtle, triton, and frog, the concave surfaces of the feet of the anterior extremities are likewise turned backwards.
[58] The effective stroke is also delivered during flexion in the shrimp, prawn, and lobster.
_Difference between Subaquatic and Aërial Flight._--The difference between subaquatic flight or diving, and flight proper, may be briefly stated. In aërial flight, the most effective stroke is delivered _downwards_ and _forwards_ by the under, concave, or biting surface of the wing which is turned in this direction; the less effective stroke being delivered in an upward and forward direction by the upper, convex, or non-biting surface of the wing. In subaquatic flight, on the contrary, the most effective stroke is delivered _downwards_ and _backwards_, the least effective one upwards and forwards. In aërial flight the long axis of the body of the bird and the short axis of the wings are inclined slightly upwards, and make a _forward_ angle with the horizon. In subaquatic flight the long axis of the body of the bird, and the short axis of the wings are inclined slightly downwards and make a _backward_ angle with the surface of the water. The wing acts more or less efficiently in every direction, as the tail of the fish does. The difference noted in the direction of the down stroke in flying and diving, is rendered imperative by the fact that a bird which flies in the air is heavier than the medium it navigates, and must be supported by the wings; whereas a bird which flies under the water or dives, is lighter than the water, and must force itself into it to prevent its being buoyed up to the surface. However paradoxical it may seem, _weight_ is necessary to aërial flight, and _levity_ to subaquatic flight. A bird destined to fly above the water is provided with travelling surfaces, so fashioned and so applied (they strike _from above_, _downwards_ and _forwards_), that if it was lighter than the air, they would carry it off into space without the possibility of a return; in other words, the action of the wings would carry the bird obliquely upwards, and render it quite incapable of flying either in a horizontal or downward direction. In the same way, if a bird destined to fly under the water (auk and penguin) was not lighter than the water, such is the configuration and mode of applying its travelling surfaces (they strike _from above_, _downwards_ and _backwards_), they would carry it in the direction of the bottom without any chance of return to the surface. In aërial flight, weight is the power which nature has placed at the disposal of the bird for regulating its altitude and horizontal movements, a cessation of the play of its wings, aided by the inertia of its trunk, enabling the bird to approach the earth. In subaquatic flight, levity is a power furnished for a similar but opposite purpose; this, combined with the partial slowing or stopping of the wings and feet, enabling the diving bird to regain the surface at any moment. Levity and weight are auxiliary forces, but they are necessary forces when the habits of the aërial and aquatic birds and the form and mode of applying their travelling surfaces are taken into account. If the aërial flying bird was lighter than the air, its wings would require _to be twisted round_ to resemble the diving wings of the penguin and auk. If, on the other hand, the diving bird (penguin or auk) was heavier than the water, its wings would require to resemble aërial wings, and they would require to strike in an opposite direction to that in which they strike normally. From this it follows that _weight_ is necessary to the bird (as at present constructed) destined to navigate the air, and _levity_ to that destined to navigate the water. If a bird was made very large and very light, it is obvious that the diving force at its disposal would be inadequate to submerge it. If, again, it was made very small and very heavy, it is equally plain that it could not fly. Nature, however, has struck the just balance; she has made the diving bird, which flies under the water, relatively much heavier than the bird which flies in the air, and has curtailed the travelling surfaces of the former, while she has increased those of the latter.