Order  VIII.  ANSERES.  Family  VI.  PELECANIDiE. 
The  second  Subfamily, 
PLOTIN^E,  or  Darters, 
have  the  Bill  lengthened,  very  slender,  and  acute,  with  the  lateral  margins  finely  serrated,  and  the  gonys 
long  and  scarcely  ascending ;  the  Nostrils  basal,  and  covered  by  a  shield :  the  Wings  long :  the  Tail 
lengthened,  and  widening  towards  the  end :  the  Tarsi  short,  very  strong :  the  Toes  long,  and  the 
anterior  ones  united  by  a  broad  web ;  the  hind  toe  long,  and  united  to  the  inner  one  by  a  broad  web : 
the  Claws  short  and  curved. 
Plot  us  Linn.* 
Bill  longer  than  the  head,  straight,  and  very  slender,  with  the  sides  much  compressed  to  the  tip, 
which  is  very  acute,  the  lateral  margins  finely  serrated,  and  the  gonys  long  and  slightly  ascending ; 
the  nostrils  basal,  linear,  and  scarcely  visible.  Wings  long,  with  the  second  and  third  quills  equal  and 
longest.  Tail  long,  and  broad  towards  the  end,  which  is  rounded.  Tarsi  half  the  length  of  the  middle 
toe,  strong,  and  covered  with  small  scales.  Toes  rather  long,  all  united  by  a  broad  web ;  the  outer  toe 
as  long  as  the  middle  one ;  the  claws  short,  curved,  and  acute. 
The  species  which  form  this  genus  are  peculiar  to  the  warmer  parts  of  America,  Asia,  and  Africa.  They  generally 
live  in  society  on  the  fresh-water  rivers  and  lakes,  on  which  they  swim  very  dexterously,  rather  deep  in  the  water. 
When  at  rest,  or  watching  for  their  food,  which  consists  of  fish,  they  mostly  select  a  dead  branch  overhanging  the 
water,  from  which  they  suddenly  dart  at  any  passing  fish ;  these,  if  small,  are  swallowed  whole,  while  those  that  are  too 
large  are  torn  to  pieces.  They  are  extremely  shy  and  cautious ;  if  alarmed  while  sitting  on  the  branches  they  silently 
slide  into  the  water,  and  reappear  at  a  distance,  where  from  the  length  of  the  head  and  neck  they  are  easily  mistaken 
for  snakes,  especially  as  those  parts  are  usually  held  just  above  the  surface,  and  have  a  peculiar  vibrating  motion. 
During  the  heat  of  the  day  they  may  be  observed  sailing  very  high  in  the  air  over  the  lakes  and  rivers.  The  nest  is 
constructed  of  sticks,  and  placed  on  trees.    The  female  deposits  from  four  to  eight  eggs. 
1.  P.  anhinga  Linn.  PI.  enl.  96O,  959.,  Wils.  Amer.  Orn. 
pi.  74.  f-  13  2.,  Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  316.  —  Plotus  melanogaster 
var.  ft.  y.  Lath. 
2.  P.  melanogaster  Gmel.  Penn.  Zool.  Ind.  pi.  12. 
3.  P.  congensis  Lecah,  Tuckey's  Voy.  App.  p.  408.  —  Plotus 
Levaillantii  et  P.  rufus  Licht.  PL  enl.  107.,  PI.  col.  380. 
4.  P.  novce  hollandice  Gould,  B.  of  Austr.  pi. 
*  Established  by  Linneeus  in  1766.  Ptynx  of  Mcehring  (1752),  Anhinga  of  Brisson  (1760),  and  Plottus  of  Scopoli  (1777)  are 
synonymous. 
August,  1848. 
