STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 817 



tion. They have always, while they fish, a 

 string fastened round their throats, to prevent 

 them from devouring their prey, or otherwise 

 they would at once satiate themselves, and dis- 

 continue their pursuit the moment they had 

 done so." 



The great activity with which it pursues, 

 and from a vast height drops down to dive 

 after its prey, offers one of the most amusing 

 spectacles to those who stand upon a cliff on 

 the shore. 



It sometimes happens that the cormorant 

 has caught a fish by the tail, and consequently 

 the fins prevent its being easily swallowed in 

 that position. In this case, the bird may be 

 observed to toss its prey above its head, and 

 very dexterously catch it, when descending, by 

 the proper end, and to swallow it with ease. 



21* 



