TOTI PALMATE SWIMMERS 
DARTERS. Family ANHINGIDAE 
118 . Water Turkey. Anhinga anhinga. 
Range. — Tropical America, north to the South Atlantic States and up the 
Mississippi Valley to Illinois. 
Anhingas or Snake Birds are curiously formed creatures with a Heron-like 
head and neck, and the body of a Cormorant. They live in colonies in inacces- 
sible swamps. Owing to their thin and light bodies, they are remarkable 
swimmers, and pursue and catch fish 
under water with ease. When alarm- 
ed they have a habit of sinking their 
body below water, leaving only their 
head and neck visible, thereby having 
the appearance of a water snake. 
They also fly well and dive from their 
perch into the water with the greatest 
celerity. 
They nest in colonies in the swamps, 
placing their nests of sticks, leaves 
and moss in the bushes over the 
water. They breed in April, laying 
from three to five bluish eggs, covered with a chalky deposit. Size 2.25 x 1.35. 
Data. — Gainesville, Florida, May 18, 1894. Nest in the top of a button-wood 
tree, made of leaves and branches, overhanging the water. Collector, George 
Graham. 
Chalky bluish white 
PELICAN POND 
Washington Zoological Park 
77 
