128 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



fiendish appearance, A. had been looking out for 

 a good means of approach, and was now making 

 anxious signs for us to follow him. We formed our 

 chain once more, and were again successful. The 

 modus operandi was simply this: — A. would get as 

 close as possible to the sleeping bird, and stretching 

 his hand cautiously over it, would seize it by the neck, 

 the nearer the head the better, to prevent its turn- 

 ing and biting. This was a much finer bird than 

 the other, and had a crest which at the time we 

 thought was merely the feathers that had been dis- 

 turbed. We had some difficulty in getting the wire 



escape, but we did not intend to let him off so 

 easily, so bound him up again, and tucking him under 

 my arm we turned our faces homewards, well 

 pleased with our success. 



We put them in an old meat-safe for the night, 

 and left them, hoarsely expostulating. 



Next morning they were croaking loudly. "We 

 had some difficulty in taking them out of their cage 

 without hurt to ourselves, as we had taken the 

 wire off their beaks, and they snapped most savagely 

 with hideous croaks. 



We did get them out, however/and let them run 



-,.. - 



Fig. 65. Common Cormorant (Phalacrocorai: enrbo). 



round its bill, and C. got severely bitten in the 

 attempt. We hastened back now to the grass and 

 put on our boots, first securing our last catch, 

 by wrapping him up in a handkerchief, and tying 

 his legs ; we then laid him on [his back in a hole in 

 the rocks and sat around. We stirred up the other, 

 which was a hen, to see if she were comfortable, and 

 whether she could breathe with her beak fastened, 

 and wrapped as she was in a coat. She gave a 

 strange guttural croaking when disturbed, which 

 might mean anything. We took it to mean that she 

 was comfortable and only wished to be left alone. 

 We laughed and squatted down to enjoy reflection. 



Our bird having got its wings free, attempted to 



on the lawn with a string to one leg. They did not 

 attempt to fly, — I suppose they could not get 

 started off the level plane, — they seemed not a 

 bit afraid, though they had numerous spectators 

 around. I tried to feed them with raw meat, but 

 had to stuff it down their throats ; getting a bite 

 for my pains. They did not swallow it, but seemed 

 to put it in a little bag beneath their bills, which I 

 had not observed before ; when this was full, they 

 threw it all up again. I gave them a bath, but had 

 to put them in, and they got out at once ; perhaps 

 the tub was too shallow for them to dive in ; then 

 placing them close together, side by side, we upset 

 the tub of water clean over them ; but, even that 

 did not seem to please them ; so, letting them first get 



