NATURALISES CABINET* 



Similitude to a serpent Sagacity. 



the head and neek of the black bellied dartef 

 while the rest of the body is hidden among the 

 foliage of a tree on which it is perched,, must na~ 

 turally mistake it for one of those reptiles, accus- 

 tomed to climb and reside in trees ; and the illu* 

 sion is increased by its having all the tortuous 

 motions of these animals. In whatever situation 

 it happens to be, whether swimming, flying, or 

 at rest, the most apparent and remarkable part 

 of its body i* its long and slender neck, which is 

 constantly in motion, except during flight, when 

 it becomes immoveable and extended, and forms 

 with its tail a perfectly strait and horizontal line. 



The principal iood of this bird is fish, which, 

 rf small enough, it swallows entire, but if too 

 large it flies off with them to some rock or stump 

 of a tree, and fixing them under one of its feet, 

 tears them to pieces with its bill. 



Though water is its principal element, yet it 

 builds its nest, and rears its young on rocks and 

 trees, but always on those that are so near the 

 river, that it can either, in case of danger, or 

 when the young are old'enough to learn to swim, 

 precipitate them into it. 



There are few birds that exceed these in saga- 

 city and cunning, particularly when surprised on 

 the water. In this situation it is almost impos- 

 sible to kill them. The head, which is the only 

 part exposed, disappears the instant the flint 

 touches the hammer of the gun; and if once 

 inissed, it is in vain to think of approaching 



