14'2 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLB I 



The eggs are pale blue and of a chalky texture, and 

 may be looked for at almost any season. This Cormorant 

 dives and swims with great facility, and, like all its kind, 

 feeds on fish, mollusca, &c. 



The Long-tailed Cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus) 

 is of a general black colour, relieved by a little greyish 

 on the wings, and a few white feathers on the sides of 

 the face and neck. The forehead is ornamented by a 

 tuft of upright black feathers, and the tail consists of 

 twelve feathers. 



It is almost as often met with on inland waters as on 

 the Coast, being found on most of the rivers. It swims 

 low in the water, only the top of the back, head and 

 neck being visible. Layard found it breeding in large 

 numbers on the Berg River in September, W. Sclater 

 on Dassen Island in July, so that its breeding season 

 appears to be irregular. The eggs are similar to those 

 of the previous species, but are smaller, and the nest is 

 .either placed on a rock, or in a tree or bush. Like its 

 congeners, it is a swift, strong flyer. 



The Snake-bird (Anhinga rufa) has the back of the 

 head, neck, and upper back dark brown, speckled with 

 dark reddish and black ; the lower back, wings and tail 

 black ; sides of the head and neck adorned with a white 

 stripe and a black band ; lower part of neck and under- 

 parts black. It has a straight, slender bill and a long, 

 snake-like neck, which gave to the bird its trivial name. 

 The feet are fully webbed. 



It is found along most of the, larger rivers, but is no- 

 where exactly common. It feeds almost exclusively on 

 fish. It is a great diver, and usually swims very low in 

 the water, only the head and long neck being visible. 



