THE DARTER. 263 
THe Darrers (fotus). 
The Darter has a straight and pointed bill, with indentations at 
the point, turned in a backward direction. Its head is slender and 
cylindrical, and forms the termination of a slim and excessively long 
fig. 97.—Darter. 
neck, which gives it much the resemblance of a serpent grafted on 
a bird. In all its movements this neck is the counterpart of the 
reptile, and imitates its undulations; therefore, in the United States 
it. has received the name of the Serpent Bird. They are untiring 
Swimmers and excellent divers. When any danger threatens them, 
they dive under water, and do not come to the surface until they have 
found some tufts of reeds in which to hide, even should the distance 
be as much as 1,000 feet from the spot where they disappeared. 
