404: OF THE DIVER TRIBE IN GENERAL. 



There are few birds that exceed these in sagacity and cunning, 

 particularly when surprised on the water. In this situation it id 

 almost impossible to kill them. Their head, which is the only part 

 exposed, disappears the instant the flint touches the hammer of the 

 gun ; and, if once missed, it is in vain to think of approaching them 

 a second tia:e, as they never show themselves more than once, unless 

 at very great distances, and then only for the moment necessary for 

 breathing. In short, so cunning are they, that they will often baffle 

 the sportsman, by plunging at the distance of a hundred paces above, 

 and rising again to breathe at the distance of more than a thousand 

 below him; and if they have the good fortune to find any reeds, they 

 conceal themselves there, and entirely disappear. 



These birds are found in several parts of the south of Africa, and 

 in the islands of Ceylon and Java, 



The W hitc-bellied Darters^ according to the account of Mr. Bartram, 

 are natives of America. He states, that they have a peculiar manner 

 of spreading out their tail, like an unfurled fan. They delight to sit 

 in little peaceable communities, on the dry limbs of trees, hanging 

 over the still waters, with their wings and tail expanded; and, when 

 approached, they drop from the limb into the water, as if dead, and 



for a minute or two are not seen, 

 when, on a sudden, at a vast distance, 

 their long slender heads and necks 

 are raised, and have much the ap- 

 pearance of snakes, as no other parts 

 of the body are to be seen when 

 swimming, except sometimes the tip 

 of the tail. In the heat of the day 

 they are often seen in great numbers 

 sailing high in the air over the rivera 



In remote districts, seldom visited by man, these birds evince so little 

 shyness, tliat it is not difficult to procure specimens ; all that is requisite 

 is to find out the trees upon M'hich they sleep and towards evening to 

 take up a ])osition in the vicinity and patiently await their coming. 

 AVlieu one of them is shot, all the survivors tumble, as if dead, into the 

 water below, where they immediately dive, and wlien they come uj) 

 again, only show their necks above the surface ; moreover they generally 

 ensconce themselves among tlie floating weeds, where they are hidden 

 from observation. 



OF THE DIVER TRIBE IN GENERAL. 



In the Divers the bill is slender, pointed, and nearly straight; the 

 I ostrils are linear, and situated at the base. The tongue is long and 

 slender ; and the legs are placed backwards near the tail. 



These birds walk awkwardly, and with great difficulty; but they 

 fly very swiftly along the surface of the water, and swim and dive 

 with remarkable dexterity. One division of them, the Guillemots, 

 chiefly inhabit the sea ; but the rest seldom frequent any but rivers. 



