131 



BLACK-BELLIED DARTER. 



(Plotus melanogaster.) 



Pl. abdomine nigro. 



Darter with the abdomen black. 



Plotus melanogaster. Gmel. Syst. Nat. 1. 580. Lath. hid. Orn. 



2. 895. 

 Anhinga de Cayenne. Buff. Pl. Enl. 959. 

 Anhinga noir du Senegal. Buff. PL Enl. 960. 

 Anhinga. Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois. 8. pL 35. 

 Anhinga roux du Senegal. Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois. 8. 453? Buff. 



PI. Enl. 107. 

 Black-bellied Darter. Llith. Gen. Syn. 6. 624. pl. 106. Wils. 



Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 79. pl. lxxiv. f. 1. 2. Lath. Gen. Hist. 



x. 451. 



This appears to be a variable species : one de- 

 scribed by Latham, from a specimen in the British 

 Museum, measured " three feet three inches and a 

 half in length: its beak four inches and a half; 

 colour dusky yellow, covered at the base with a skin 

 of the same colour, which occupies the space between 

 the beak and eye, and Surrounds the latter : nostrils 

 a slit placed obliquely, not far from the base; the 

 upper mandible finely serrated : the head is small, 

 and the neck long and slender, both covered with 

 short downy feathers, of a dusky white : or very pale 

 brown, palest before, and darkest at the lower part 

 behind : the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts are of 

 the same colour, but deeper : the lower part of the 

 neck, on the sides, and the wing-coverts, marked with 

 oval spots of white, regular, and forming rows on 



