510 



WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



edges sharp and entire ; mandibles equal ; the upper slightly fur- 

 rowed on either side nearly its whole length, the margins dilated at 

 base. Nostrils in the furrow, medial, concave, oblong, pervious, 

 covered by a membrane, but open in the middle. Head small, en- 

 tirely feathered ; neck moderate, slender. Feet short ; tibia almost 

 entirely feathered ; hind toe short, touching the ground at tip only ; 

 connecting membrane much indented, very deeply scalloped, merely 

 bordering the anterior toes ; hind toe free and simple : nails short, 

 curved, and acute. Wings moderate, acute ; 2d and 3d primaries 

 longest. Tail spreading, composed of 12 feathers. 



The sexes alike in plumage ; but the young differing somewhat 

 from the adult. They moult twice in the year, but scarcely change 

 the colors of their plumage. The feathers thick, close, and downy ; 

 the colors brownish. 



These are very active birds residing on rivers and creeks. They 

 fly well, and swim and dive with celerity. They walk awkwardly 

 and scarcely ever rest but on their favorite element. They are 

 often in the habit of expanding their wings and tail. As might be 

 supposed from their aquatic life, they subsist principally on fish, 

 water reptiles and winged insects, which they capture in the air 

 with great dexterity. They nest on the ground, in marshes, con- 

 tiguous to water. — They are confined to the warm portions of 

 America and Africa, and consist of two sectional species. 



SURINAM DARTER. 



(Heliornis surinamensis, Vieill. Bonap. Synops. No. 363. Plotus 

 surinximensis, Lath. Ind. Podoa surinamensis, Iluger. Le Grebe- 

 Foulque, Buff. PI. Enlum. 893. Oiseau de Soleil, Descript. Su- 

 rin. ii. p. 192. Surinam Tern, Brown.) 



Sp. Charact. — Brown, beneath whitish; sides of the neck striped 

 with black and white ; bill and feet dusky, the latter barred with 

 black ; toes semipalraated ; tail rounded, with the feathers broad. 



This bird inhabits the warmest parts of America, par- 

 ticularly Surinam, and in summer is an accidental visiter in 

 the Middle States of the Union. It is chiefly seen on ihe 



