TflRDS. '•^''' 



The fisher curries them out into the lake, perched on the gunnel 

 of his boat, where they continue tranquil, and expecting- bis 

 orders with patience. When arrived at the proper place, at the 

 iirst signal given each flies a different way to fulfil the task as- 



nakoa area of the eyos, and poucli, are dirty yellow ; the crest is four inches 

 lou^j the body beneath is pale ; the quill feathers are black ; and the scapu- 

 lars of a gray lead colour ; the feathers of the breast are long- and narrow •, 

 the legs are yellow. This bird, like others of its race, is very voracious. 



The Anhingas, Plotus, or Darter of Latham, are birds which inhabit the 

 most southern and the warmest regions of both continents, where they fre- 

 quent fresh waters, and inundated savaiuiahs. They perch on trees which 

 border the shore, pass the night there, and construct their nest on the most 

 elevated branches. They swim and dive after fish. If the fish which they 

 catch Is small, they swallow it entire, without leaving the water. If too 

 large, they carry it on a rock, or the trunk of a tree, and divide it with the 

 bin anil feet. When the anhingas fly, the neck, stretched out, forms a hori- 

 zontal line with the tail ; but when they are at rest, its perpetual oscillation 

 considerably augments its resemblance to a snake. Being extremely wild, 

 these birds are but seldom seen on land ; and when they swim, their head is 

 almost the only part which is out of the water, into which they plunge alto- 

 gether on the slightest appearance of danger, and do not reappear, hut at 

 considerable distances. Even then, they only show themselves for the time 

 which is necessary for respiration. Such is their cuiniing, that they having 

 dived at the distance of a hundred paces beyond the pvn-suer, they emerge 

 to respire the air at more than a thousand paces behind him, until finding 

 some reeds, they conceal themselves there, and appear no more. Their i?kin 

 is very thick, and the flesh oily and ill. flavoured. 



The l'li:lu,s A)ihingii, according to liartram, live in small societies, and 

 assemble on the ilry branches which hang over rivers. When siu-pris(!d, 

 they drop into the water, as if dead, and after one or two minutes, they 

 rr-appear, at a great distan(-e, showing nothing but the neck, and sometimes 

 the end of the tail. During the heat of the day, they fly in great numbers, 

 to a considerable elevation in the air, over lakes and rivers. 



The Phriclon, or Tropic Birds, received from I^inna^us the former ap- 

 pellation, because, from their habitual residence under the burning iione, 

 bounded by the tropics, they seem attached to the chariot of the sun. From 

 this climate they ri'move but little, and are rarely seen beyond the 21st 

 parallel of south latitude. Their appearance, accordingly, indicates to 

 mariners their approaihiug passage under this zone, from whatever side 

 lliey may arrive. Still tliey advance seiuward, many hundreds of leiigues. 

 'i'hese birds have a mode of flying which is peculiar to themselves. They 

 appear, Irom a sort of trenibliiig, to be extenuated with fatigue, and on 

 the point of falling. They drop down from a considerable height, aban- 

 doning themtelves to their wei)ilit, and seize tin- fish without diving. But 

 when they pursue th" flying.fiah, which i-onslifute their principal aliment, 

 they shave the surface of the water. When they perceivi; a vessel, the/- 

 come to reconnoitre it, hovering above its head. They are particularly at, 

 trarted by any thing red 

 The tropic-bird.', like the corvorants perch on the highest trei:. ; audit 



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