PLOTUS. 157 
Anhinga anhinga, Ridgw. Man. N. Amer. Birds, p. 77"; Herrera, La Nat. (2) i. pp. 188%, 330”; 
Stone, Pr. Acad. Philad. 1890, p. 203”; Bryant, Zoe, ii. p. 49; Richm. Pr. U. 8. Nat. 
Mus. xvi. p. 53°; A. O. U. Check-l. N. Amer. Birds, 2nd ed. p. 41; Ridgw. Man. N. 
Amer. Birds, 2nd ed. p. 77”. 
Ptil. estiv. Niger, viridi-nitens; interscapulio summo et laterali cum tectricibus alarum minimis maculis 
ovatis albis minutis ornatis; scapularibus et secundariis intimis griseo-albo longitudinaliter conspicue 
decoratis ; tectricibus medianis et majoribus griseo-albis concoloribus ; remigibus et rectricibus nigris, his 
pallide ochraceo terminatis, medianis transversim indentatis ; pileo colloque undique cum corpore subtus 
toto nigris, viridi nitentibus; pileo cristato et plumulis albis ornato; nucha et collo postico plumulis 
filamentosis albis et brunneis decoratis; maxilla sordide olivacea, mandibula flava, margine et apice 
viridibus ; regione oculari nuda cyanescenti-viridi; mento nudo lete aurantiaco; tarso antice sordide 
olivaceo, postice flavo, membrano interdigitali quoque flavo ; iride late coccinea. Long. tota circa 30°0, 
ale 12-6, caude 10-2, culm. 3°15, tarsi 1:35. (Descr. exempl. ad. ex Nicoya, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.) 
Ptil. hiem. ptilosi estive similis, sed plumis filamentosis ornamentalibus nullis. 
Q ptil. estiv. mari similis, sed pileo colloque aliter coloratis, minime viridi-nigris ; pileo et collo postico 
brunneis, illo plumulis albis ornato; interscapulio brunneo, maculis parvis ovatis albis notato ; facie 
laterali gulaque albicanti-brunneis, gutture imo et prepectore saturatioribus, vinaceo-brunneis ; preepectore 
imo fascia vinaceo-castanea circumdato, corpore reliquo subtus viridi-nigro. Long. tota circa 30:0, 
alee 12°5. (Descr. feminz ex Castillo, Panama. Mus. nostr.) 
Juv. femine adulte similis, sed brunnescentior, pectore et abdomine brunneis, fascia prepectorali castanea 
absente, gutture brunneo, prepectore albicante ; noteo brunnescente, plumis obscure cinereo striatis, 
tectricibus alarum medianis sordide cinerascentibus, basin versus nigricantibus ; fasciis indentatis rectricum 
medianarum absertibus. (Descr. exempl. juv.ex Peten. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Norta America, north to the Carolinas, the mouth of the Ohio River, and 
Southern Kansas 2°,—Mextco, Tampico (Richardson '°), Rio Mazatlan, Rio Santiago 
(Bischoff, Grayson 13), Tepic 74, Lake Chapala? (Grayson), Guanajuato, 
Guadalajara (Dugés 1°), Cosamaloapam, Vera Cruz, Santa Efigenia, Tehuantepec, 
Tonala (Sumichrast +), Valley of Mexico (Herrera?! ??), Jalapa (Sallé ®, 
de Oca*}*), Progreso, Yucatan (Stone & Baker ?*), Cozumel I. (Gawmer !8 19) ; 
GuateMaLa, Lake of Peten (Leyland®®, O. 8.1), Lake of Yzamal (0. 8.) ; 
Honpuras, Lake of Yojoa (TLaylor’); Nicaraeva, Rio Frio, Rio Escondido 
(Richmond *>), San Juan del Sur (Nutting 17); Costa Rica, San José (v. Frantzius 9), 
Nicoya (H. Arcé}®), La Palma (Nutting 1°); Panama, Laguna del Castillo (7. 
Arcé 1119),— South America, from Colombia and Guiana to Amazonia and 
Brazil }9. 
The Darter is found in the Southern States of North America, breeding from North 
Carolina to the Gulf States and Florida, but is unknown on the Pacific side. 
The species is plentiful in Western Mexico, on the rivers of Mazatlan and 
Tepic, and on Lake Chapala, near Guadalajara, and southwards to Panama. It chiefly 
frequents the freshwater streams and lakes, but is occasionally found on the salt 
lagoons near the sea, or wherever an abundance of small fish is to be found. The bird 
pursues its prey at great speed beneath the water, only returning to the surface to 
devour it, or, when satisfied, to sit upon a bough or log with outstretched wings to 
dry in the sun. Notwithstanding its heavy flight, the Darter drops noiselessly into 
