.NET Windows Forms in a Nutshell

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The animal on the cover of .NET Windows Forms in a Nutshell is a darter. The darter, or anhinga, is a slender bird closely related to the cormorant. Darters can be found near inland waters, such as rivers and lakes, in warm climates all over the world. These birds subsist mostly on fish, which they catch by diving into the water and piercing their prey with their dagger-like beaks.

Like cormorants, darters’ feathers become heavily saturated with water when they dive, decreasing their buoyancy and enabling them to stay under water for long periods of time. They may also swim around with their entire bodies submerged and only their snake-like necks and heads visible. Because of this, they are sometimes referred to as ’snake birds.’ After swimming, darters perch with their wings spread to dry. Their black skin aids in heat absorption from the sun, helping the birds warm up.

In addition to being strong swimmers, darters are skilled fliers, allowing them to migrate annually. They nest in small colonies, sometimes with herons. Darters feed their young by regurgitating food directly into their beaks.

Linley Dolby was the production editor and copyeditor for .NET Windows Forms in a Nutshell . Brian Sawyer and Claire Cloutier provided quality ...