3656 Birds. 



and fix themselves in an upright position, which they maintain in the 

 utmost silence : if there be foliage or long moss, they secrete them- 

 selves in it in such a manner that they cannot be perceived unless one 

 be close to them. When approached, they drop into the water with 

 such surprising skill, that one is astonished how so large a body can 

 plunge with so little noise, the agitation of the water being apparently 

 not greater than that occasioned by the gliding of an eel." 



When in the water they are very shy and difficult to get near, and in 

 swimming the head is the only part visible : they will dive, too, with 

 the greatest alacrity, and make their appearance at a considerable dis- 

 tance ; the long elastic tail-quills serve as a rudder when the bird is 

 in the water procuring fish : if the fish be small, it is swallowed at 

 once ; but if large, the bird carries it either to a rock or to the trunk 

 of a tree, and holding it fast with one of its feet, tears it to pieces with 

 its beak. 



With regard to its nidification, some say that it builds its nest ei- 

 ther upon trees or among the rocks in the neighbourhood of the water; 

 but Nuttall says "they usually build in low trees stretching over the 

 water in their favourite swamps, lagoons or rivers, and sometimes se- 

 lect the retirement of islands. The nest is made of sticks and coarse 

 reeds, and the eggs, probably eight or more, are said to be of a sky- 

 blue colour. They are so attached to particular localities as to breed 

 for a series of years in the same tree. The young, as well as the old, 

 if materially disturbed, drop from the nest into the stream over which 

 they are usually suspended, in perfect silence, like lumps of lead, often 

 diving entirely beyond the view before they again emerge." 



According to Bartram, " they are sometimes seen in the heat of the 

 day in great numbers, sailing very high in the air over lakes and ri- 

 vers." If this be the case, it may account for the occurrence of our 

 bird in England ; but 1 must add that this narrative of Bartram's mili- 

 tates strongly against Nuttall's account, who says "the darters, though 

 eminently aquatic, keep in fresh water at a distance from the sea : 

 they never walk, nor remain long on the wing.'''' 



The above extracts sufficiently show the character and habits of 

 this remarkable bird, and may be of interest to those who have not the 

 original works at hand to consult. After extracting so largely from 

 Mr. Waterton, Wilson, Nuttall, Temminck, &c , it would be presump- 

 tuous in me to add anything further ; but having in my former paper 

 called attention to the accuracy of the drawing of the bird, perhaps I 

 may be permitted to remark of the engraving, that though upon the 

 whole I consider it very faithful and satisfactory, there are one or two 



