MopDERN CLIFF-DWELLERS 
me, nor as horizontal as the Pufthns. How these 
scenes impress themselves on the memory of a 
bird-lover ! 
After the breeding-season the various Cliff 
Dwellers leave their summer haunts and scatter over 
the ocean, yet keeping mostly “on soundings.’ By 
the latter part of September, or early October, lines 
of Cormorants, with slow, measured flight begin to 
wing their way along the southern New England 
coast, even flying over the land. Many beanie) mis- 
take this for an early flight of Geese, and wonder 
why they fly at this time in silence, without 
“honking.” Quite often flocks alight in the larger 
ponds to rest and quench their thirst. I recall how, 
one beautiful October day, about thirty of them 
settled down in Lake Nippenickett, and remained 
out in the centre for over half an hour, resting and 
drinking the fresh water. ‘Then they rose, to con- 
tinue their southward flight. Unfortunately for 
them they passed over a gunning-stand on a point 
of land, where a hunter lay in wait for ducks. 
Though they were quite high up, one shot took 
effect, and a great black creature came tumbling 
down. When I reached the spot I found that it 
was a Double-crested Cormorant. At any time 
during the autumn they may be seen resorting to 
certain low, rocky islands and ledges off the coast, 
and to some extent during the winter. Returning 
northward in the spring, they gather in flocks in 
certain bays, and fly out, often over projections of 
land. A fisherman, some years ago, told me that 
Oo! 
