DARTER, OR SNAKE BIRD. 
251 
jOt in my power to .iscertain. All the darters which 
* Saw, while in Florida, were males. 
The snake bird is an inhabitant of the Carolinas, 
:’®orgia, the Floridas, and Louisiana, and is common in 
j *yenne and Brazil. It seems to have derived its name 
*'‘®in the singular form of its head and neck, which at 
^ distance might be mistaken for a serpent. In those 
'^'intries where noxious animals abound, we may readily 
'■•tuceive that the appearance of this bird, extending its 
^lender neck through the foliage of a tree, would tend 
startle the wary traveller, whose imagination had 
I'turtrayed objects of danger lurking in every thicket. 
habits, too, while in the water, have not a little 
Contributed to its name. It generally swims with its 
. ody iramerged, especially when apprehensive of danger, 
ds long neck extended above the surface, and vibrating 
i"* a peculiar manner. The first individual that I saw 
Florida was sneaking away, to avoid me, along the 
*nore of a reedy marsh, which was lined with alligators, 
the first impression on my mind was that I beheld 
^ Snake, but the recollection of tlie habits of the bird 
®nn undeceived me. On approaching it, it gradually 
^ok, and my next view of it was at many lathoms 
j'stance, its head merely out of the water. To pursue 
:**ese birds at such times is useless, as they cannot be 
’’•duced to rise, or even expose their bodies. 
. Wherever the limbs of a tree project over, and dip 
the water, there the darters are sure to be found, 
®6se situations being convenient resting places for the 
J’tnpose of sunning and preening themselves, and, 
^bably, giving them a better opportunity than when 
r’’iinmir.g of observing their finny prey. They crawl 
the water upon the limbs, and fix themselves in 
Upright position, w'hich they maintain in the utmost 
deuce. If there be foliage, or the long moss, they 
®®rete themselves in it in such a manner that they 
^Unot be perceived, unless one be close to them, 
''hen approached, they drop into the water with such 
drprising skill, that one is astonished how so large 
"ody can plunge with so little noise, the agitation of 
