I'* 1 93 



occasionally somewhat more. Tin- height at which the (tannet fli-a 

 above the water is proportioned (<i the depth al win. I, the fi-h are 

 swimming U'lieath, uiul Captain Collins tolls tin- (hat when ti-h are 

 swimming near the Mirface the (iittmrt flics very low anil dart* ob- 

 liquely instead of vertically II|MIII his prey. Should any flnny game 

 be Ken within range, down p c- tin- (iannct headlong, the nearly 

 stoned wings being u-<-d to guide tli<> living arrow in it* downward 

 flight. .JuM alx.ve the Mirfact the wings are firmly closed, and a small 

 plash of spray allows where the winded ti-li.-r cleaves the water to 

 tr:in-!i\ his prey. I>isap|H-aring for u few second*., the bird reappears, 

 rests for a moment on the water, long enough ti -.wallow hi*- catch, 

 and then rises in pursuit of other game" (Lucas, K- -p. 1 . & N it. Miu-., 

 1891, p. 712). 



FAMILY A MHV .n > i . DARTERS. 



There are four *\-< !<> ->f Darters or Snakel-irds. one each in Africa, 

 southern A>ia. Australia, and tropical and subtropical America. They 

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

 wooded shores. They select a |)erch over the water, and when alarmed 

 sometimes drop into the element helow and disappear t>cneath its >ur- 

 face, or fly upward to a consideralile height and circle aUmt like sail- 

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

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

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

 of the name "Snakcnird." They olitain their food l.y pursuing it 

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

 their hold upon it. 



118. Anhinga anhinga (/.//>.>. AMIIM.A; s\.\KEniRi>; WATER 

 TfRKKY. (Sec Fitf. 13.) A<i. t in ninu>i>r. (ienerul I'luuiu'.'i* iflowy black 

 with greenuih reHectionn ; haek of the heml and m*ek with wattered irra\ Uh 

 plumes; upper back wi^h numepiii.*. elongateil HI! very white ]M>t><. \\hi-h n 

 the ncapulara become utrcakit; lewer wimr-envert*. |><>ttcd like the hack: ex- 

 pOMd portion of median and |?reater coverU silvery jrrny ; tnil tipjxtl * ith 

 whitinh, the outer webs of tin* middle pair .'Heathers with trnnsverw rtutinjf*. 

 Ad. 6 in winter. Similar, but without the jrr\ i>h plumes on the head and 

 neck. Ad. 9 .Similar to , but with the whole head, neek, and hrva*t 

 brownuh, darker above. /. Similar to 9 , hut with the Muck parts of the 

 plumage brownish. L., 84-00; W., l.T.'rfi; T.. 10-60; B., 8-6. 



Kain/t. Tropical and -subtropical Ameri-a: I -reeds an far north a* south- 

 ern Illinois and South ('aml'ma; winter* t'r-nu the (lull' States southward. 



A'ttt, of sticks lined with moss, rootlet*, ote.. over tlie water in a bu-h or 

 tree. yy*, two to four, bluish white with a chalky deposit, 2-15 x 1-S5. 



This singular bird is common in the (iulf States. It has the 

 habits of other members of this small family. 



