PELICANS, CORMORANTS, AND PETRELS. 259 
may happen to pass near it. It is very shy and cautious, and is sel- 
dom killed even by the Indians, who are fond of its flesh.” 
In parts of Florida there is (or was?) found a 
curious cormorant-like bird, known locally as the 
“Water-turkey” and “ Snake-bird.” Ridgway gives 
its range as “the whole of tropical and subtropical 
America, north to South Carolina, Southern Illinois, 
and Western Mexico.” 
The following is George Ord’s account, in part, as 
given in his edition of Wilson’s “ Ornithology :” 
“It generally swims with its body immerged, especially when ap- 
prehensive of danger, its long neck extended above the surface, and 
vibrating in a peculiar manner. The first individual that I saw in 
Florida was sneaking away to avoid me, along the shore of a reedy 
marsh, which was lined with alligators, and the first impression on 
my mind was that I beheld a snake; but the recollection of the 
habits of the bird soon undeceived me. On approaching it, it gradu- 
ally sank, and my next view of it was at many fathoms’ distance, its 
head merely out of the water. To pursue these birds at such times 
is useless, as they cannot be induced to rise, or even expose their 
bodies. 
“‘ Wherever the limbs of a tree project over, and dip into, the 
water, there the Darters are sure to be found, these situations being 
convenient resting-places for the purpose of sunning and preening 
themselves; and, probably, giving them a better opportunity, than 
when swimming, of observing their finny prey. They crawl from 
the water upon the limbs, and fix themselves in an upright position, 
which they maintain in the utmost silence. If there be foliage, or 
the long moss, they secrete themselves in it in such a manner that 
they cannot be perceived, unless one be close to them. When ap- 
proached, they drop into the water with such surprising skill, that 
one is astonished how so large a body can plunge with so little noise, 
the agitation of the water being, apparently, not greater than that 
occasioned by the gliding of an eel.” 
To this account Ord added as follows, contributed 
by William Bartram : 
