DARTERS. 93 



occasionally somewhat more. The height at which the Gannet flies 

 above the water is proportioned to the depth at which the fish are 

 swimming beneath, and Captain Collins tells me that when fish are 

 swimming near the surface the Gannet flies very low and darts ob- 

 liquely instead of vertically upon his prey. Should any finny game 

 be seen within range, down goes the Gannet headlong, the nearly 

 closed wings being used to guide the living arrow in its downward 

 flight. Just above the surface the wings are firmly closed, and a small 

 splash of spray shows where the winged fisher cleaves the water to 

 transfix his prey. Disappearing for a few seconds, the bird reappears, 

 rests for a moment on the water, long enough to swallow his catch, 

 and then rises in pursuit of other game" (Lucas, Rep. U. S. Nat. Mus., 

 1891, p. 712). 



Family Anhingid^. Darters. 



There are four species of Darters or Snakebirds, one each in Africa, 

 southern Asia, Australia, and tropical and subtropical America. They 

 are silent birds, generally living in pairs on bodies of fresh water with 

 wooded shores. They select a perch over the water, and when alarmed 

 sometimes drop into the element below and disappear beneath its sur- 

 face, or fly upward to a considerable height and circle about like sail- 

 ing Hawks. They swim well, and when approached too closely quietly 

 sink backward, frequently leaving the long, thin neck and narrow, 

 pointed head above the surface, when one at once observes the origin 

 of the name " Snakebird." They obtain their food by pursuing it 

 under water, and their finely serrated bill assists them in retaining 

 their hold upon it. 



118. Anhinga SLuhingst, {Linn.). Anhinga; Snakebird; "Water 



Turkey. (See Fig. 13.) Ad. $ in summer. — General plumage glossy black 

 with greenish reflections ; back of the head and neck with scattered grayish 

 plumes ; upper back with numerous elongated silvery white spots, which on 

 the scapulars become streaks ; lesser wing-coverts spotted like the back : ex- 

 posed portion of median and greater coverts silvery gray ; tail tipped with 

 whitish, the outer webs of the middle pair of feathers with transverse flutings. 

 Ad. 3 in winter. — Similar, but without the grayish plumes on the head and 

 neck. Ad. 9 . — Similar to $ , but with the whole head, neck, and breast 

 brownish, darker above. Jm. — Similar to v , but with the black parts of the 

 plumage brownish. L., 34-00 ; W., 13-50 ; T., 10-50 ; B., 3-25. 



Range. — Tropical and subtropical America; breeds as far north as south- 

 ern Illinois and South Carolina; winters from the Gulf States southward. 



Nest., of sticks lined with moss, rootlets, etc., over the water in a bush or 

 tree. Eggs., two to four, bluish white with a chalky deposit, 2-15 x 1-35. 



This singular bird is common in the Gulf States. It has the 

 habits of other members of this small family. 



