48 BIRD BIOGRAPHIES 



sometimes he captured a fish too large 

 to swallow. When a large one like this 

 was taken, he would carry it to the 

 edge of the boat, and holding the fish 

 by its tail, would bring the fish's head 

 down with loud thuds on to his wood 

 perch. When the fish was stunned he 

 tossed it in the air, caught it again head 

 first and made great efforts to swallow 

 it ; but the fish was too large to go 

 down, and after two or three attempts 

 he tossed it into the boat, and again 

 looked down into the water. I liked to 

 see him when he caught a fish which 

 he could just manage to swallow. It 

 looked as if he would choke, but by 

 opening and shutting his beak, and 

 giving a few violent gulps, the fish at 

 last disappeared down his throat. Such 

 an occasion required a lengthy nap. 

 All his feathers were ruffled, and he 

 looked as if he was passing through the 

 throes of violent indigestion ; but this 



