CATCHING FISH IN CHINA. 293 



began to look for fish. They have a beautiful sea-green 

 eye, and, quick as lightning, they see and dive upon the 

 finny tribe, which, once caught in the sharp-notched bill 

 of the bird, never, by any possibility, can escape. The 

 Cormorant now rises to the surface, with the fish in his 

 bill, and the moment he is seen by the Chinaman he is 

 called back to the boat. As docile as a dog, he swims 

 after his master, and allows himself to be pulled into the 

 san-pan, where he disgorges his prey, and again resumes 

 his labours. And, what is moi'e wonderful still, if one of 

 the Cormorants gets hold of a fish of large size, so large 

 that he would have some difficulty in taking it to the 

 boat, some of the others, seeing his dilemma, hasten to 

 his assistance, and with their efforts united capture the 

 animal, and haul him off to the boat. Sometimes a bird 

 seemed to get lazy or playful, and swam about without 

 attending to his business ; and then the Chinaman, with 

 a long bamboo, which he also used for propelling the 

 boat, struck the water near where the bird was, calling 

 out to him in an angry tone. Immediately, like the 

 truant schoolboy, who neglects his lessons and is found 

 out, the Cormorant gives up his play, and resumes his 

 labours. A small string is put round the neck of the 

 bird, to prevent him from swallowing the fish which he 

 catches."* The Shag (Ph. graculus) is very similar in 

 aspect and habits to the Common Cormorant, but is of 

 smaller size, and is at once distinguished by its uniform 

 dark-green colour. The Gannet (Sula alba) is more 

 robust than either of the Cormorants, with a shorter 

 and thicker neck, a large head, and a broadly-conical, 

 * Fortune's China, pp. 99, 100. 



