338 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Habits Description Varieties. 



seen, when on a sudden, at a vast distance, their 

 long heads and necks are raised, and have much 

 the appearance of snakes, as no other parts of the 

 body are to be seen when swimming, except 

 sometimes the tip of the tail. In the heat of the 

 day they are often seen in great numbers, sailing 

 high in the air over the rivers and lakes. 



THE BOATBILl, 



A VERY curious bird, is found in the south- 

 ern parts of America, of which it is a native; it 

 is about the size of a common fowl. The gene- 

 ral colour of the bill is dusky, and the skin be- 

 neath the under jaw is capable of distention. 

 From behind the head springs a long black crest. 

 The plumage on the forehead is white, and the 

 rest of the bird is a pale bluish ash colour ; and 

 the feathers which hang over the breast are 

 loose, like those of the heron. There are vari- 

 eties of this bird, both spotted and brown, but 

 they appear simple varieties, and not at all enti- 

 tled to the denomination of species. Like the 

 king-fisher, it preys upon fish, which it catches 

 by perching on trees that over-hang the streams, 

 and dropping on the fish as they swim by. 



