PELECANJD^. 547 



tliey mostly select a dead brancli overlianging tlie 

 stream, from wliicli they dart on their prey. Tliey are 

 extremely sliy and cautious. If alarmed while sitting 

 by the river- side, they silently glide into the water 

 with so little effort that they scarcely produce more 

 agitation than would be caused by an eel, and reappear 

 at a distance, where, from the serpent-like appearance 

 of their head and neck, they are easily mistaken for 

 snakes, as these parts only usually appear above 

 the surface. During the heat of the day they may 

 be occasionally seen sailing very high in the air. 

 Their nests are constructed of sticks, and placed on 

 trees. The eggs are from four to eight in number. 



The species which has been best described is — 



The Black-bellied Darter (Plotus melauog aster). The 

 habitat of this singuhir bird, so far as we yet know, is 

 coiitined to the colonies of Southern Africa and New 

 South Wales, where it is thinly but generally dispersed in 

 all situations favourable to its habits ; such as the upper 

 j)arts of armlets of the sea, the rivers of the interioi*, 

 extensive water-holes, and deep lagoons. It usually takes 

 up its abode in localities little frequented by man, seeks 

 its prey in the water, dives with the greatest ease to the 

 bottom of the deepest pools, and is as active in this ele- 

 ment as can well be imagined. It ordinarily swims witli 

 a considerable portion of the body above the surface ; but 

 upon being disturbed iannediately sinks it below the 

 water, leaving the head and neck only to be seen, which 

 from their form, and the motion communicated to them 

 by the action of swimming, present a close resemblance 

 to those of a snake. Its food consists of fish, aquatic 

 insects, newts, frogs, and other aquatic animals. After 

 feeding, it perches on a snag of some fallen tree in the 

 forest, nigh to its haunts, where it sits motionless for 

 hours together. While thus perched, it is more easily 

 approached and shot than on the water, where it is 

 extremely watchful and circumspect. Dr. Livingstone 

 says. — "Tlieir chief time of feeding is by niglit ; and as 

 the sun declines, they may be seen flying from their 

 roosting-places to the fishing-grounds. This is a most 

 diflScult bird to catch when disabled. It is thoroughlv 



