250 
FEMALE SNAKE.BIRD. 
of the male^ except that the colour and markings were not so pure 
and distinct; length thirty-six inches, extent forty-six. These 
birds frequent the ponds, rivers and creeks, during-the summer; 
build in the trees of the swamps, and those of the islands in the 
ponds ; they construct their nests of sticks ; eggs of a sky blue 
colour. I inspected a nest, which was not very large, it contained 
two eggs and six young ones, the latter varying much in size ; they 
will occupy the same tree for a series of years. They commonly 
sit on a stump, which rises out of the water, in the mornings of 
the spring, and spread their wings to the sun, from which circum- 
stance they have obtained the appellation of Sun-birds. They are 
difficult to be shot when swimming, in consequence of only their 
heads being above the water.” 
Never having seen a specimen of the Black-bellied Darter of 
Senegal and Java, I cannot give an opinion touching its identity 
with ours. 
