FAMILY HELIORNITHIDAE 



367 



Resident. Found locally in the tropical zone on larger bodies of 

 fresh water ; recorded from the Rio Changuinola and the Changuinola 

 Canal in Bocas del Toro ; on Gatun Lake and the Rio Chagres in the 

 Canal Zone ; Rio La Jagua, Panama (one record) ; and the Rio Tuira 

 at Boca de Paya, Darien (one record) . 



On the lateral channels and bays bordering the Chagres below 

 Madden Dam these curious birds are fairly common, though easily 

 overlooked because of the broad masses of floating vegetation that 

 furnish them cover. Occasionally they are encountered as they swim 

 in open waters along the shores, when in form they resemble grebes 



Fig. 61. — American finfoot, patico de agua, Heliornis fulica. 



because of the slender bill and neck. When startled they may dive, 

 or may rise, with feet paddling the water for a short distance, and 

 then fly just above the surface to the shelter of water plants where 

 they disappear. Again, they may rise a meter or two in the air and 

 fly swiftly, like a small duck, for a hundred meters or more. When 

 moving slowly in a cayuco so as not to alarm the marsh birds I 

 have had them swim to the shelter of the shore and there remain 

 partly hidden until 1 approached within a few meters. At such times 

 the dark body merges with the shadows, so that only the white 

 streaks on head and neck are seen. I have observed them swimming 

 in company with small groups of lesser scaup ducks, when, as the 

 ducks take flight, the finfoot may dive, or may rise with them to 

 accompany them for a short distance, but soon to circle back and 



