ANHINGID^— THE ANHINGAS. 209 



"This is said to be the very first among fresh-water divers, 

 disappearing beneath the surface with the quickness of thought, 

 leaving scarcely a ripple on the spot, and j-eappearin^, perhaps 

 with its head only above the water for a moment, ^.t a place 

 several hundred yards distant. If hit, and only wounded,, this 

 bird readily baflies all the endeavors of the sportsman to secure 

 it. When swimming, and unmolested, it is buoyant, and moves 

 with its whole body above the water; but when in danger it 

 sinks its body, leaving only the head and neck out of the water, 

 presenting the appearance of a portion of a large snake." 

 ( Water Birds of North America. ) 



The Anhinga appears to be a regular summer resident in the 

 extreme southern portion of Illinois, since Mr. Kennicott found 

 it to be common in the vicinity of Cairo, in 1865, while Mr. 

 Nelson observed it in the same locality twenty years later. 



—27 



