SNAKE-BIRD. 131 



It generally swims with its body immerged, especially when apprehensive 

 of danger, its long neck exti-ndeil above the surface, and vibrating in a 

 peculiar manner. The first individual that I saw in Florida, was stieak- 

 ing 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 gradually 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 approached, 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. 



Formerly the Darter was considered by voyagers as an anomalous 

 production, a monster partaking of the nature of the snake and the 

 Duck ; and in some ancient charts which I have seen, it is delineated in 

 all the extravagance of fiction. 



From Mr. W^illiam Bartram we have received the following account 

 of the subject of our history : 



" Here is in this river,* and in the waters all over Florida, a very 

 curious and handsome bird, the people call them Snake-birds ; I think 

 I have seen paintings of them on the Chinese screens, and other Indian 

 pictures ; they seem to be a species of Colymhus, but far more beautiful 

 and delicately formed than any other that I have ever seen. They 

 delight to sit in little peaceable communities, on the dry limbs of trees, 

 hanging over the still waters, witli tlicir wings and tails expanded, I 

 suppose to cool and air themselves, when at the same time they behold 

 tlu'ir images in the watery mirror. At such times when we approach 

 them, they drop off the limbs into the water as if dead, and for a minute 

 or two are not to be seen ; when on a sudden, at a great distance, their 

 long slender head and neck appear, like a snake rising erect out of the 

 water ; and no other part of them is to be seen when swimming, except 

 sometimes the tip end of their tail. In the heat of the day they are 



* The river St. Juan, East Florida. 



