246 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



The mother fondled her young with the greatest tenderness, and put 

 some food into the mouth of each. The Httle ones seemed very happy, and 

 billed and caressed their mother. 



But all at once this happy scene came to an end, for the mother bird! 

 spied the intruder, and flew away, leaving the young ones quite at his mercy. 

 The little ones seemed much frightened, and crawled along the rock to a hole,, 

 into which they went for shelter. 



The nests are made of a quantity of dry sticks, matted in a rude wa)^ 

 with weeds and moss. The cormorants mend the old nests every year, and 

 come back to the same place. On some of the ledges the nests are all 

 crowded together, but on every secure place is a nest, except towards the top' 

 of the rock, where there are none. 



The young birds are of a very uncouth appearance, and of a livid colour^ 

 and their legs and feet seem enormou.s. If any one goes near them they 

 stretch their necks, and open their bills, and make a curious sound, between 

 a hiss and a mutter. They crawl sluggishly about, helping themselves along 

 by their bills, looking at all times extremely clumsy. 



The cormorants perform a kind of toilet, by flapping their wings and 

 rubbing and scratching themselves with their beak and claws, and beating 

 up the water round themselves. 



They are very regular in returning to the same place to roost, and those 

 that have no broods spend the night apart from the rest, standing erect in 

 files on the highest ledges. 



They fly in long strings, one after the other, and are seen by hundreds 

 in a company. It is impossible to come near them ^\•hen they are fishing, 

 they are so cautious, and have so many sentinels upon the watch. 



THE SWAN. 



** The swan, witli arclied neck 



Between her white wings mantling, proudly rows 

 Her state with oary feet." 



In former times the swan was held in great esteem as an article of food,, 

 and used to be served up at the national feasts as the grand dish of the 



