of the United States. 411 



is withdrawn at the least appearance of danger. Neck kept 

 constantly vibrating, in flight stretched forward. When alarm- 

 ed, drop from the limbs where they sit in company, silently 

 sliding into the water, re-appearing at a distance, their slender 

 neck and small head being easily mistaken for a snake. Feed 

 on fishes, which they catch dexterously, darting at them with 

 their sharp bill and long neck, swallowing small ones entire, 

 and retiring to a rock to tear the larger in pieces with their 

 claws. Build in trees, nest constructed with sticks: eggs 

 few in number. 



Confined to the warm parts of both continents. Species 

 only two. 



362. Plotus anhinga, L. Black, varied with hoary : scapu- 

 lars short, lanceolate j naked space on the throat extensive, 

 black. 



Adult, belly black ; in spring, hind head with long, slen- 

 der, black feathers. 



Young, neck and beneath whitish. 



Black-bellied Darter, Plotus melanogaster, Wils. ix. p. 79. 

 pi. 74. Jig. l. adult, and p. 82- pl> 74. fig. 2. young. P. me- 

 lanogaster, Vieill. Gal. des Ois. pi. 278. ad. bad figure. 

 Buff.pl. enl. 960. ad.pl. enl. 959. young. 



Inhabits during summer the rivers of the southern states : 

 also Mexico and South America : common throughout the 

 year in Florida.* 



* Plotus Vaillantii, Temm. Black varied wih hoary ; crown rufous, 

 scapulars long, subulate ; naked space of the throat very small, yellow. 



Adult, beneath black ; in breeding season, sides of the neck with long, 

 slender, white feathers. 



Young, beneath pale rufous. 



Plotus Vaillantii, Temm. pi. col. 380. ad. in full dress. Buff* pi. 

 enl. 106. bad figure. 



Inhabits eastern and southern Africa, India, and Oceania. 



