Ned Stein, age 12, of Burlington, Vt., for his question:

WHERE DO DARTER BIRDS LIVE?

The darter is a large tropical bird that lives in swamps, ponds and rivers in nearly all of the warm regions of the world. The American darter is about three feet long with a long, thin neck, small head and pointed bill.

The American darter has glossy black plumage, silvery markings on the back of the neck and wings and a broad brown tipped tail. The bill is olive above and yellow below. The feet are olive with yellow webs.

The darter feeds on fish and other water life. It is an excellent swimmer and a very strong flier.

Sometimes the darter is called the snakebird because it occasionally swims half submerged, with only its snakelike neck visible above the water.

The American darter is also called the water turkey or anhinga.