THE CORMORANT 347 



surface of the water, except in inland districts, when it 

 frequently passes from place to place at a good height in the 

 air. Its flight is a heavy and laboured one, but rapid and 

 well-sustained. The Gannets sail in graceful circles, almost 

 without effort ; the Gulls and Terns dart here and there in 

 airy course, surveying the water below ; but the Cormorant 

 pursues his rapid flight, straightforward and steady, as if bent 

 on getting to his destination as quickly as possible. Cormor- 

 ants never fish from the air like Gannets and Gulls, but 

 always when at rest, either perched on rocks or trees, or 

 when sitting on the surface of the water. Their powers of 

 diving are unrivalled, and they seem to fly as readily under 

 the water as through the air. 



The food of the Cormorant is composed almost exclusively 

 of fish, both those from the sea and the fresh inland waters. 

 Eels and roach are favourite food of this bird's, and his prone- 

 ness for them too often leads to his destruction, man seldom 

 welcoming this feathered fisher to his lakes and ponds. 

 Alas ! poor ill-fated Cormorant, thy lot is a hard one, and 

 thou hast but few indeed to protect or befriend thee ! The 

 ancients have placed on record a history of thy misfortunes, 

 which, if legendary, still proves the interest they took in 

 observing thy strange habits and economy. 



Cormorants pair very early in the year, and about this 

 time the male bird assumes certain nuptial ornaments. He 

 does not don a. crest like the Shag, but a tuft of white 

 plumage grows out near the thighs, and the head and neck 

 become suffused with white filaments. These soon wear off, 

 and the Cormorant has lost his wedding finery long before 

 the young are hatched. The breeding grounds of the Cor- 

 morant are not always near the sea, nor are they confined to 

 the rocks. In some cases inland localities are chosen, such 

 as islands in lakes and ponds ; and occasionally trees are 

 selected for the purpose, the nest being built firmly in the 



