THE BLACK BELLIED DARTER. 335 



Principal food Description. 



and a tuft of thin small longish feathers upon 

 the head; the neck is about six inches long, co- 

 vered with thin feathers of a bluish black colour; 

 the whole body of the bird being nearly the same 

 colour, except the breast, belly, and under the 

 wings, which appear something lighter. 



The legs are covered with greenish scales, and 

 are about seven or eight inches long; it has four 

 toes, one behind and three before, the middle- 

 most of which is about two inches long; and it 

 has black crooked sharp claws. 



They feed on shrimps, young crabs, spiders, 

 and field crickets; and frequent ponds and wa- 

 tery places. 



THE BLACK BELLIED DARTER. 



THIS species is the size of a common duck; 

 the head, neck, and upper part of the breast are 

 of a pale brown, and on each side of the neck is 

 a broad white line. The belly, wings, and tail 

 are black, as are also the back, scapulars, and 

 wing-coverts; but these are marked with white 

 lines. The bill is bluish above, and somewhat 

 red beneath, and the legs are of a yellowish 

 green. The four toes are united like those of 

 the cormorant. It is about three feet in length, 

 and is found in some parts of Africa, in Ceylon, 

 and Java. In these countries where people are 

 o apprehensive of serpents, whoever sees only 



