PELICANS, CORMORANTS, AND PETRELS. 259 



may happen to pass near it. It is very shy and cautious, and is sel- 

 dom killed even by the Indians, who are fond of its flesh." 



In parts of Florida there is (or was?) found a 

 curious cormorant-like bird, known locally as the 

 " Water-turkey" and " Snake-bird." Ridgway gives 

 its range as " the whole of tropical and subtropical 

 America, north to South Carolina, Southern Illinois, 

 and Western Mexico." 



The following is George Ord's account, in part, as 

 given in his edition of Wilson's " Ornithology :" 



" It generally swims with its body immerged, especially when ap- 

 prehensive of danger, its long neck extended above the surface, and 

 vibrating in a peculiar manner. The first individual that I saw in 

 Florida was sneaking 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 gradu- 

 ally 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 ap- 

 proached, 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." 



To this account Ord added as follows, contributed 

 by William Bartram : 



