THE ANHINGA OR SNAKEBIRD. 



{Anhinga anhinga.) 



The Anhinga belongs to a very small 

 family of birds called the Darters, which 

 includes but four species, all inhabiting 

 tropical and sub-tropical countries. One 

 species inhabits Africa, another southern 

 Asia, the third Australia and the fourth, 

 which we illustrate, is a native of the 

 Americas. Its range extends from South- 

 ern Illinois and South Carolina south- 

 ward into South America. It is a con- 

 stant resident in the states bordering the 

 Gulf of Mexico where it frequents the 

 numerous and extensive swamps. 



The habits of the four species are 

 practically the same, all frequenting the 

 banks of streams, lakes and swamps. 

 They may associate with their fellows, 

 forming large flocks, or they may be 

 seen in pairs or as single individuals. 

 They are seldom seen except in localities 

 which are well wooded. Unfrequented 

 islands which are covered with ^ dense 

 growth of trees and shrubs are a favorite 

 resort. Dr. Livingstone says of the 

 African species that it may be seen 

 perched on nearly every rock and stump, 

 "either sunning itself over the stream, or 

 standing erect with outstretched wings. 

 Occasionally it may be seen fishing, with 

 its body so much submerged that hardly 

 anything but the neck appears above the 

 water. Its time of feeding is by night, 

 and, as the sun declines, it may be seen 

 flying in flocks to the fishing grounds. 

 It is a most diflicult bird to catch, even 

 when disabled, in consequence of its ex- 

 pertness in diving; it goes down so 

 adroitly and comes up again in such 

 unexpected places, that the most skillful 

 boatman rarely secures them." 



The American Snakebird is also an 

 expert diver. Like the Loon it disap- 

 pears instantly and noiselessly and swim- 

 ming for quite a distance it will often 

 appear again at a point in the opposite 

 direction to that in which it started to 

 swim. When alarmed, it quietly drops 



from its perch into the water, scarcely 

 causing the surface to ripple. 



The name "Snakebird" had its origin in 

 the peculiar swimming habits of this bird. 

 When alarmed or when feeding, it often 

 swims rapidly in a zigzag course with 

 only its head and neck exposed. At such 

 times the bird may easily be mistaken for 

 a snake, for water snakes are far from 

 uncommon in the regions frequented by 

 the snakebird. The name "Darter" 

 not only arises from its quick and 

 sudden motions but probably also from 

 its method of catching fishes which it 

 pursues under water. By a quick motion 

 the fish is either caught and held in its 

 finely serrated bill or is impaled upon it. 

 An observer who has made a study of 

 these birds while in captivity says : 

 "When fishing the Darter swims beneath 

 the surface of the water with its wings 

 partially expanded, and with a peculiar 

 jerky action of the head and neck, sug- 

 gestive of a man poising a spear before 

 throwing it. When within striking dis- 

 tance, the bird, by a vigorous lunge of 

 the neck, impales the fish on the tip of 

 its beak and immediately afterwards rises 

 to the surface, when it shakes off its 

 prey by a series of jerks of the head and 

 neck. In order to accomplish this bay- 

 oneting process, the Darter has a peculiar 

 'kink' in the vertebrae of the hinder part 

 of the neck, which can be suddenly 

 straightened out by muscular action, 

 when the head is necessarily shot for- 

 ward." 



The Snakebirds are perhaps more for- 

 tunate than many of the water birds, for 

 while their feet are webbed, their toes 

 are long and strong, giving them the 

 power of perching. Their nests, con- 

 structed with sticks and lined with moss, 

 grass and small roots, are placed over the 

 water in shrubs, or trees. They usually 

 nest in colonies and not infrequently in 

 the vicinity of the nests of herons and 

 Florida comorants. 



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