PHALACKOCOIiAX. 



323 



If any further evidence is required as to the destructive habits of Cormorants, it may be 

 obtained by a visit to the Bird Room of the Australian Museum. Dr. C. Louis Gabriel, of 

 Gundagai, who forwarded the specimen of the Black Cormorant (Phijlnciwofnx carlo) alluded to 

 on the 15th October, 1897, sent the accompanying note with it: — "I am sending you a fine 

 specimen of the Black Shag, which I obtained yesterday. The misguided bird met its death 

 trying to swallow a fisli a size too large. .\ score of boys were engaged for over two 

 hours yesterday afternoon in chasing the unfortunate captor up and down a small ana- 

 branch of the Murrunibidgee l^iver, near the Gundagai bridge. Eventually the Shag was 



cau^;ht by a couple of Water Spaniels." 

 ~ " The bird in question, received in the 



flesh the day after it was caught, had 

 the hinder half of a Murray Cod (Oli- 

 ^oi'iis iiuuqtiat'ii-mi$) protruding from 

 its widely distended mouth, the bird 

 being unable to get it down or up by 

 the spines of the fish's fins penetrating 

 right through the thin fleshy skin of the 

 throat ; the combined weight of the 

 bird and fish totalled 5lbs. loz. .After 

 taking accurate measurements, witli 

 some difficulty 1 succeeded in remov- 

 ing the fish, which was quite fresh, the 

 fore part of the head alone being 

 partially digested, measuring over all 

 thirteen and a half inches, and weigh- 

 ing one pound one ounce. I'he bird 

 and fish were then skinned and finally 

 set up for exhibition purposes just as 

 received. The voracity of these birds 

 could be accurately guaged by the 

 weights each of the bird and fish, four 

 pounds nine ounces and one pound 

 one ounce respectively, the Cormorant 

 attempting to swallow a fish nearly a 

 quarter of the entire bird's weight. 

 On the 7th December, lyii. Dr. 

 Gabriel presented a somewhat similar 

 specimen to the Trustees of the Aus- 

 tralian Museum, which was shot by a man on Morley Creek, Gundagai. The mouth and throat 

 of the specimen were distended to a considerable size by a partially swallowed Golden Carp, 

 or " Gold-fish " {Ccirassun auvntiis). Accurate measureinents were taken of both specimens when 

 received, and they have been beautifully prepared and set up in a like manner by Mr. Kobt. Grant, 

 Taxidermist of the Australian Museum. In addition to the perfect fish, a partially digested 

 one five inches in length was found in the bird. The latter weighed four pounds twelve ounces, 

 and the Carp thirteen ounces. 



In Eastern Asia, as is well known. Cormorants are trained and have long been used for 

 fishing purposes, and Mr. M. E. Dresser in his "Birds of Europe" briefiy refers to it as follows : — 

 "The Chinese have long used Cormorants for fishmg, and have them in excellent training, and 

 in England they have also been used for the same purpose; and even now Mr, F. H. Sahin, 



ISLACK COKMOKANT ATTEMPTING TO SWALLOW MURRAY COD. 



