A wettish darter drying itself at Jerra Ck appeared to have a double set of wings. This, it appears, was due to a feature HANZAB describes as belonging to the Anhingidae generally: ‘Erectile, striped, lanceolate scapulars prominent on
breeding birds.’ This bird at rest, with half-closed wings, is able to ‘erect’ (if that is the word) a single long feather with its base enclosed in a sheath of many smaller ones – quite a bizarre effect. I have looked at photos of other anhingas without
seeing anything quite as extreme as this. I have a related photo taken on another occasion I’ll inflict on you in a moment
