XXVIII 
BEAKS 
345 
lakes of Eastern Ethiopia. It posts itself on a dead 
bough overhanging a river, or the stump of a tree, a 
rock, or tuft of rushes, or a rush-island. This bird 
swims low, exposing the head and neck, or only the 
beak when danger threatens : when it dives into the 
water hardly a ripple follows, and the feet are used as 
The Darter swims under water and transfixes a fish on its 
bayonet-like bill by a quick thrust, then comes to the 
surface and the fish is jerked into the air, dexterously caught, 
and swallowed. The edges of the beak are furnished with 
fine needle-like points directed backward. 
powerful paddles. The darter transfixes the fish on its 
bayonet-like beak with a quick thrust. On coming to 
the surface of the water, the fish is jerked into the air, 
dexterously caught, and swallowed. Having satisfied 
its hunger, the bird returns to a dead bough and 
spreads its wings to dry.” The darter rises from the 
water with some difficulty, and in this act its powerful 
