LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS 51 



back and forth at a height of about forty feet, and tlieir 

 long, willowy tail feathers add greatly to the grace and 

 beaut}' of their appearance when on the wing. They are of 

 rare and probably accidental occurrence on our coasts. 



THE ANHINGA OR SNAKE BIRD* 



The Snake Bird is verj^ singular, indeed, in appearance, 

 and interesting as well in its habits. Tropical and sub- 

 tropical America, north to the Carolinas and southern 

 lUinois, where it is a regular summer resident, are its 

 known haunts. Here it is recognized by different names, 

 as Water Turkey, Darter, and Snake Bird. The last men- 

 tioned seems to be the most appropriate name for it, as 

 the shape of its head and neck at once suggest the serpent. 

 In Florida it is called the Grecial Lady; at the mouth of 

 the Mississii^i^i, Water Crow, and in Louisiana, Bee a 

 Lancette. It often swims with the body entirely under 

 water, its head and long neck in sight like some species of 

 water snakes, and has no doubt more than once left the 

 impression on the mind of the superstitious sailor that he 

 has seen a veritable sea serpent, the fear of which led him 

 to exaggerate the size of it. 



As a diver the snake bird is the most wonderful of all 

 the ducks. Like the loon, it can disappear instantly and 

 noiselessly, swim a long distance, and reappear almost in 

 an opposite direction to that in which naturally it would be 

 supposed to go. 



The nests of the anhinga are located in various places, 

 sometimes in low bushes at a height from the ground of 



Mii/thsny Of uma 



iieRARV 



