496 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Genus PLOTUS, Linnaeus. 



Asia, Africa, America, and Australia are eacli tenanted by 

 a species of this genus, the members of which are but few in 

 number, and the specific differences of these are not well un- 

 derstood. 



Sp. 657. PLOTUS NOV^-HOLLANDI^, Gould. 



New Holland Darter. 

 P lotus nova-hollandice, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part xv. p. 34. 



Plotus novae-hoUandise, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vii. 

 pi. 75. 



The habitat of this singular bird appears to be confined 

 to the colonies of South Australia and New South Wales, 

 where it is thinly but generally dispersed in all situations 

 favourable to its habits ; such as the upper parts of arm- 

 lets of the sea, the rivers of the interior, extensive water- 

 holes, and deep lagoons. Shy and seclusive in disposition, it 

 usually takes up its abode in localities little frequented by 

 man ; seeks it prey in the water, dives with the greatest ease 

 to the bottom of the deepest pools, and is as active in this 

 element as can well be imagined. It ordinarily swims with 

 a considerable portion of the body above the surface of the 

 water, but upon being disturbed immediately sinks beneath 

 it, leaving the head and neck only to be seen, and these, 

 from their form and the motion communicated to them by the 

 action of swimming, present a close resemblance to those of 

 a snake. Its food consists of fish, aquatic insects, newts, 

 frogs, &c. After feeding it perches on a snag of some fallen 

 tree in the water, or on the naked branch of a tree in the forest 

 nigh to its haunts, often on one of the greatest height, where 

 it sits motionless for hours together : while thus perched it is 

 much more easily approached and shot than on the water, 

 where it is wary in the extreme. J 



