168 STORIES or BIRD LIFE 



The way in which the birds serve their masters is this: 

 They are taken to a river or lake, a strap is placed about 

 their necks, and they are liberated. Once in the water they 

 dive in quest of fish. When one comes to the surface with 

 a struggling victim in its mouth, and finds itself unable to 

 swallow its prey on account of the strap, it at once swims 

 to the boat and the boatmen relieve it of its prize. Once 

 free, the faithful fisherman again dives beneath the sur- 

 face, only to repeat the performance. 



We have not yet learned to tame the cormorants in our 

 country and make use of them as do the Chinese, The old 

 birds we saw that day on Big Lake were far from being 

 tame. Upon our approach they left their nests and, after 

 flying wildly about for some time, settled on the water 

 several hundred yards away. Here they remained until, 

 as we passed on around the lake, they left the water in a 

 body and rising gradually, went winging rapidly back to 

 their ancient breeding grounds, back to their hungry, clam- 

 oring young. 



THOUGHT QUESTIONS 



What is the largest bird you have ever seen? Do you think it was larger 

 than a cormorant? Can you name any birds besides cormorants that eat 

 fish and eels? What other birds can you recall that are black? What other 

 birds and domestic fowls have webbed feet ? Where do web-footed birds live ? 



