D A R T E R. 622 



rather itout : all the four toes joined together by a membrane : 

 the legs are of a pale dufky colour : and the toes are barred with 

 black. 



This bird inhabits Surinam ; and is chiefly feen on the fides Place and 

 of rivers and creeks, feeding on fmall fl/b, as well as infecls, but Manners. 

 above all on flies, in the catching of which it is fo dexterous, 

 that it never mifles finking one with the bill (which is very 

 fharp) at the firft attempt. It is often domefticated by the in- 

 habitants, and known to them by the name of the Sun Bird. It 

 is very active, and the head and body faid to be continually in 

 motion. From the circumftance of its continually expanding 

 the tail and the wings both at the fame time, it has been 

 thought to refemble the Sun, according to the ideas of thofe who 

 have obferved it in this fituation, and has thereby gained the 

 name of the Sun Bird. 



From attending to the Jynonyms, we may obferve how dif- 

 ferent the ideas of the authors have been who have mentioned 

 the bird j and, to fay the truth, it does not quite correfpond with 

 any genus ; though it has the greatefi fimilarity poffible to the 

 prefent, wherein we have placed it. Dr. Forfter has given us 

 his opinion herein, as may be obferved in his Zoologia Indica *, 

 having obferved the connection of the webs of all the four toes, 

 which in the compleat bird is fufficiently manifeft. A fecond 

 circumftance likewife determines the vicinity to this genus, which 

 is, the fudden darting of the bill on the objects of its prey, as 

 the other Darters likewife are feen to do ; yet the bird here 

 treated of differs in one refpect ; viz. the not being bare on the 



* P. 23. Nose °, 



4 L 2 fides 



