MGRTH AMERICA. 1%1 
tapering from its ball to a iharp point; all the upper 
fide, the abdomen and thighs, are as black and 
glofly as a raven’s, covered with feathers fo firm and 
elaftic, that they in fome degree refemble fifh-fcales ; 
the bread: and upper part of the belly are covered 
with feathers of a cream colour; the tail is very 
long, of a deep black, and tipped with a filvery 
white, and when fpread, reprefents an unfurled fan. 
They delight to fit in litde peaceable communities, 
on the dry limbs of trees, hanging over the kill waters, 
with their wings and tails expanded, I fuppofe to 
cool and air themfelves, when at the fame time they 
behold their images in the watery mirrour. At fuch 
times, when we approach them, they drop off the 
limbs into the water as if dead, and for a minute or 
two are not to be feen ; when on a hidden, at a 
vail diflance, their long ilender head and neck 
only appear, and have very much the appearance 
of a fnake, and no other part of them is to be 
feen when fwimming in the water, except fome- 
times the tip end of their tail. In the heat of the 
day they are feen in great numbers, failing very 
high in the air, over lakes and rivers. 
I doubt not but if this bird had been ail inhabit- 
ant of the Tiber in Ovid’s days, it would have 
furniihed him with a fubjedl for fome beautiful 
and entertaining metamorphofes. I believe it 
feeds intirely on fifh, for its flefh knells and takes 
intolerably ftrong of it; it is foarcely to be eaten 
unlefs conftrained by infufferabie hunger. 
I had now fwamps and marfhes on both Tides of 
me ; and evening coming on apace, 1 began to look 
out for high land to encamp on ; but the extenfive 
marfhes feerned to have no bounds, and it was al- 
moft dark when I found a tolerably fui table place, 
K 2 and 
