290 THE REASON WHY : 



" A cormorant flew several times round the ship. As these 

 birds are seldom, if ever, known to fly far out of sight of land, 

 I judged that some was not far distant." CAPT. COOK. 



That it should be true, indeed, would be in contradiction to the 

 whole analogy of nature, the voices of pain in animals, and 

 especially at the hour of death, being without a single exception 

 unpleasant to the ear. 



936. What peculiarity is there in the structure of the foot 

 of the cormorant ? 



The tarsi are stronge rand more tendinous than in swimming 

 birds ; they are straighter set ; the toes collapse more, and thus 

 the birds can walk better, and also stand firm on the slippery 



points of rocks. The pecu- 

 liarity in form is the web 

 continued to the hind toe, 

 and the general position of 

 the web being inwards rather 

 than forwards, as may be 

 seen in the annexed figure of 

 the right foot of the cormo- 

 rant, with the side outwards, 

 which is turned towards the 

 centre of the bird. 



937. If the prey is on the surface, and small, these birds can capture it by a snap 

 of the bill, and ascend again without losing the wing, in the same manner that the 

 skimming birds take the greater part of their food ; but if the prey is under the 

 surface, and large, the wing must not only suspend its action, but be partially 

 closed, and the bird must thus enter the water, using it wings as agents in again 

 ascending. 



938. Why are stormy petrels enabled to run upon the surface 

 of the water ? 



Because the lightness of their bodies, and the action of the 

 wind upon their wings, enable them with ease to assume this 

 position during a storm. In calm weather they perform the same 

 manoeuvre, by keeping their wings just so much in action as to 

 prevent their feet from sinking below the surface. 



