[5j] SEA BIRDS AS BAIT FOR CATCHING CODFISH. 315 



iustauces which I can recall, hags that were thought to be dead have 

 escaped by "flopping" out over the slanting stern of the dory, unnoticed 

 by the fishermen until it Avas too late to recover the wounded birds. 



The tenacity of life and the remarkable pugnacity of these birds have, 

 upon many occasions, provoked the fishermen to the cruel sport of tor- 

 menting them and prolonging their sufferings. Perhaps a dozen or 

 more hags may be caught, and having been put in a hogshead-tub, or in 

 a " gurry -pen," on the deck of the vessel, the fishermen bring about an 

 internecine war by stirring them up with a stick. At such tiuies the 

 birds evidently imagine that their companions are avowed enemies, and, 

 pitching into their nearest neighbors, a general fight and terrible com- 

 motion ensue, while the feathers fly in all directions, much to the amuse- 

 ment of the men. In a short time the birds which were taken from the 

 water sleek and strong, are utterly worn out ia their struggles with one 

 another, and present a bedraggled, forsaken, and disreputable appear- 

 ance. The fishermen also sometimes tie two hags by the legs, using a 

 string about one foot in length, which enables the birds to swim, but 

 keeps them in unpleasant contact, the consequence being that they fight 

 until one or both succumb. 



The hagdon is remarkably strong and swift in its flight. Often it 

 may be seen skimming over the waves, passing from the top of one sea 

 to another, scarcely moving a muscle ; but by trimming its wings, if 

 such an expression is allowable, first poised on one wing and then on 

 the other, it is apparently ijropelled without an effort on its part, but 

 simply by the action of the wind beneath. This method of flight, how- 

 ever, is frequently varied, for when necessary the hagdon can and does 

 move its wings with great power and considerable rapidity. When in 

 pursuit of food it plunges suddenly down into the water, striking on its 

 breast with great violence, and in a manner quite different from that in 

 which gulls alight. Its method of diving is also different from that of 

 many other species. It never plunges head first into the water as do 

 the gannet, kingfisher, and many other piscivorous birds ; but it first 

 alights upon the surface, as just noted, disappearing almost instantly. 

 It is an active swimmer under water, and when in pursuit of food passes 

 rapidly from one object to another, provided it cannot eat the first thing 

 which attracts its attention. When the hiigdon finds food agreeable to 

 its taste, it immediately rises to the surface and hastily swallows the 

 morsel, if it is not too large. This manner of eatiug is necessary as a 

 matter of self-protection, for if the bird delays swallowing its food, it 

 will soon have to dispute its right of possession with its companions. 



It is a common occurrence for a number of these birds to chase a boat 

 for half an hour or more at a time, diving like a flash, every few min- 

 utes, after the bubbles made by the oars, which these winged rangers 

 seem to imagine some kind of food beneath the surface of the water. 

 Kor will repeated failures discourage them in making these attempts. 

 They will also persistently follow a dory from which a trawl is being 



