36 KNOWING BIRDS THROUGH STORIES 



time, until they are able* to fly, or at least swim well. As 

 soon as they can fly, they are deserted by their parents, who 

 seem to feel that now they should be able to look after 

 themselves. 



The favorite food of the cormorant is fish and other 

 small aquatic animals near the shore, and they eat also 

 thousands of young cod and other fish. Feeding as they 

 do, their flesh is never used for food. In fact, even their 

 eggs are so strongly flavored that the fisherf oik who collect 

 the eggs of gulls and other water birds for food never 

 think of eating the cormorant's eggs. 



In the late fall the birds migrate to the coast of north- 

 eastern United States. In flight, one not used to them 

 might mistake them for large ducks as they usually fly in 

 a straight line as the ducks fly. Sometimes, however, they 

 form a V shaped line like wild geese. 



This cormorant is dull grayish-brown on back and wings, 

 black with a faint greenish sheen elsewhere. On his head 

 in the breeding season are two plume-like tufts of feathers 

 which curl forward, making a conspicuous double crest, 

 which gives the bird its name, the double-crested cormo- 

 rant. We have several varieties of cormorants, but the 

 double-crested one and its sub-species is the one most 

 generally seen in our country but is not the most beautiful. 

 As his habits are very similar to those of the other mem- 

 bers of the family, it is not necessary to tell the story of 

 the others. 



