NESTS AND EGGS OF AVSTRALIAN BIRDS. g^g 



Sub-family — Pi.otin.k : daktehs. 



725. — Plotus sov^ HoLLANDiiE, Gould. — (657) 

 DARTER. 



Fij;ure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vii., pi. 75. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxvi., p. 417. 



Pre-iious Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould : Birds of Australia, Hand- 

 book, vol. ii., p. 497 (1865) ; North : Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 362 

 (18S9) ; also Kec. Austn. Mus , vol. i., p. 147 (1891), and vol. 

 ii., p. 21 (1892). 



GeofiraphicaJ Dislrihittioii. — Whole of Australia ; also New Guinea 

 and New Zealand (accidental). 



Nest. — A platform, about 15 inches across, slightly concave, of twigs, 

 lined inside with a few leaves ; situated, in companies, usually in low 

 trees in a swamp or overhanging a stream, &c. 



Eggs. — Clutch, three to four, rarely five ; elongated oval in shape, 

 more or less pointed at one end ; texture of shell coarse ; surface 

 without gloss ; colour, outer coating of lime, dull or chalky-white, which, 

 on being removed, reveals a greenish-white shell. Dimensions in inches 

 of a proper clutch : (1) 2-34 x 1-45, (2) 2-23 x 1-46, (3) 2-2 x 1-46. 



0})xtrvatioiiii. — The Plotus, or, as it is commonly called, the Darter, 

 is a shy and seclusive Cormorant-like bird, and, although nowhere 

 plentiful, is found throughout AustraUa, frequenting lagoons near the 

 sea as well as in the interior. I recollect only once seeing it in its 

 native element. It swims low, the motions of its head and neck at a 

 distance resembling the movement of a snake on the water, hence, 

 I suppose, the name Snake Bird, which is occasionally applied to it. 



As far as has been observed. Darters feed entirely under water, 

 swimming with wngs half expanded, but locomotion is only effected by 

 their webbed feet. The bird pursues its prey (fish, &c.), taking it with 

 the peculiar darting (hence the vernacular name Darter) or jerky action 

 of the head and neck^ which has been compared to a man poising a 

 spear or harpoon before throwing it. Tliis darting, though short, is 

 so violent as to effectually " stiike " the fish the bird is pursuing. The 

 bird " flies " under water even more swiftly than it can through the 

 air.* 



Part of the Darter's plumage is handsomely marked. I think it 

 was in the New Zealand coui-t of the Melbom-ne International Exhi- 

 bition of 1888 that I saw ladies' muffs, &c., made of Darter skins. The 

 technical description of this interesting bird is long, btit its plumage 

 may be described as glossy greenish-black, beautifully ornamented by 



' The special mechanism of the Darter's neck is technically explained by 

 Mr, W. A. Forbes in the P.Z.S. (1S82), pp. 210—212, 



