80 CICONIIFORMES CHAP. 
white stripe on the sides of the head and a white border to the 
gular sac; the almost identical P. melanogaster of the Indian 
Region, extending to Celebes; and P. levaillanti of the Ethiopian 
tecion—described also from Antioch as P. ehantrii—which has 
a rufous crown, buff throat, and chestnut greater wing-coverts. 
Darters cannot be classed as marine birds, though they 
Fic, 23,—Indian Darter. Plotus melanogaster. x4 
frequent inlets of the sea as well as lakes and rivers, where they 
sun themselves with outspread wings on some stump, rock, tree, 
or even tuft of rushes, while seldom admitting of a near approach. 
When disturbed, they circle in the air with the neck drawn back 
upon the shoulders, as do the Pelicans; but the flight is laboured, 
and they are much more at their ease in water, where they swim 
very low, exposing only the head and neck, or even the bill, if 
danger threatens, and having a very snake-lke appearance, as they 
