THE CORMORANT — FRIGATE-BIRD. 155 
for this purpose in England, in the same manner as a nearly 
related species is to the present day employed in China. Mr. 
Fortune thus describes this original chase, 
which he witnessed on the Yellow River: — 
“There were two boats, each containing 
one man, and about ten or twelve birds. 
The latter stood perched on the sides of 
the boats, and seemed to have just arrived 
upon the scene of action. Their masters 
now commanded them to leave the boats; 
and so excellent was their training, that 
they instantly cbeyed, scattered them- 
selves over the canal, and began to look 
for prey. They have a splendid sea- Common Cormorant. 
green eye, and quick as lightning they 
see and dive upon the finny tribe, which, once caught in the sharp 
notched bill, finds escape impossible. As soon as a cormorant rises 
to the surface with his prey in his bill, his master calls him, when, 
docile as a dog, he swims to the boat and surrenders the fish, 
after which he again resumes his labours. And what is more 
wonderful still, when one of them has got hold of a fish so large 
as to be with difficulty dragged to the boat, the others come to 
his assistance, and by their united strength overpower the 
sprawling giant. Sometimes when a cormorant is lazy or play- 
ful, and seems to forget his business, the Chinaman strikes the 
water with a long bamboo near to the dreamer, and calls out 
to him in an angry tone. Immediately the bird, like a school- 
boy caught noddiag over his lesson, gives up his play, and 
returns to his duty. A small string is tied round the neck of 
the birds, for fear they might be tempted to swallow the fish 
themselves ” 
The frigate-bird hovers over the 
tropical waters. Its singularly easy 
and graceful flight affords all the 
charm of variety. Sometimes it is —_ 
seen balanced in mid air, its wings 
spread, but apparently motionless, 
its long forked tail expanding and 
closing with a quick alternate mo- 
a> _. 
frigate-Bird. 
tion, and its head turned inquisitively downwards ; sometimes 
