380 



Birds. 



prey, and bring whatever they capture to their owner's 

 boat. Sometimes two Cormorants will unite their efforts 

 to capture a large fish ; and if any of the hands neglect 

 their business the man will slap on the water with a 

 bamboo, as a schoolmaster does with his cane on tho 

 desk, to recall the idlers to a sense of their duty. This 

 bird, although of the aquatic kind, is often seen, like the 

 pelican, perched upon trees. Milton tells us that Satan 



On the tree of life, 



The middle tree, and highest there that grew, 

 Sat like a Cormorant." 



In the year 1793, one of them was observed sitting on 

 the vane of St. Martin's steeple, Ludgate Hill, London, 

 and was shot there in the presence of a great number of 

 people. 



THE SHAG, OB CKESTED COKMOKANT, 

 (Phalacrocorax graculus,) 



Is of a dark green, with a singular tuft on the front of 

 the head in the spring. It breeds in rocky caves on the 

 sea-coast. 



