264 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



These birds are of a wild and suspicious nature, confining themselves 

 to solitary haunts. They perch upon trees which grow by the sides 

 of a pool or river, in order to dart upon any unfortunate fish which 

 comes within their reach, which they seize with extraordinary address, 

 swallowing it whole if not too large ; but if such should be the case, 

 they carry it to a rock, where they dismember it with their beak and 

 claws. 



The Darters build their nests on the topmost branches of trees, 

 constructing them of dried twigs and reeds, and lining them inside 

 with a thick layer of down. 



Only two species of Darter are known — the Anhinga (Plotus) 

 Levaillantii, a native of Africa, the plumage of which is black from 

 the breast to the tail ; and the Black-bellied Darter {Plotus anhinga. 

 Fig. 97), an American species. 



Levaillant, in his usual lively manner, relates that he was induced 

 to visit a rich proprietor in the Canton of the Twenty-four Rivers by 

 a tempting description he received of two extraordinary birds which 

 haunted the vicinity. They frequented a particular tree, and baffled 

 him more than once by their skill ; but at length he got within shot, 

 and killed both of them right and left. He describes them as diving 

 for fish. When they caught a small one it was swallowed ; when a 

 large one, it was carried to a rock or the trunk of a tree, when the 

 bird, fixing it beneath its feet, picked it to pieces with its bill. 

 Though the water is its favourite element, it is on trees and rocks, 

 he tells us, that it establishes its nest and brings up its young, taking 

 care to place the nest so that the young may be precipitated into 

 the water as soon as they are able to swim, or when the safety of the 

 family requires it. 



The Gannets (Sula). 



The Gannet is a massively-made bird, not of 'a graceful shape ; 

 it is larger than a Duck, and has white plumage. 



One species, the Brown Gannet, has obtained the name of Booby 

 (Sula fused), from the supposed stupidity which, rightly or wrongly, 

 is attributed to it ; for if a person finds one of these birds standing 

 in his path, the creature offers no resistance, but will allow itself to 

 be killed rather than abandon its position. The Frigate Bird, with 

 audacious rapacity, when it observes the Gannet catch a fish, swoops 

 down upon it and compels it to disgorge its prey. Their somewhat 

 imperfect organisation explains this habit of non-resistance. The 

 shortness of their legs and the excessive length of their wings 



