Natural History 409 



Different Fishing Methods 



It is interesting to compare the different methods of fishing 

 adopted by two of the Cormorant's relatives, the Gannet and the 

 Pelican, and the different forms of beak which go with each. The 

 Gannet, or so-called Solan "Goose," nests in great colonies on 

 several of the rocky islets around the British coasts, and it may 

 also be seen at most times off many parts which are far from these 

 breeding stations. It is a bird of fine white plumage and noble 

 flight, which, soaring at a height and then suddenly dropping like 

 a plummet, uses its long straight beak to transfix fish swimming 

 near the surface. 



The Pelican, again, is a fisher of the shallows which wades 

 through the water with its enormous gape at full extent, and the 

 great pouch below its beak ready to receive what comes. A party 

 may work in concert, sweeping the pool in a long line like a living 

 seine net. "The Cormorant pursues, twists, turns, and seizes; the 

 Gannet soars, plunges, and spears; the Pelican sweeps and 

 engulfs." 



6 



The Wisdom of the Raven 



We may refer here to the Raven. Like some of the larger 

 birds of prey, the Raven takes a wife for life, and they use the 

 same nest year after year. As an inland bird the Raven is now 

 not so frequently met with, for it has been driven by persecution 

 from many of its former mountain haunts. Luckily it is one of 

 the hardiest of birds and can adapt itself to great extremes of 

 temperature. 



The Raven, the biggest of our Crows, is the brainiest of all 

 our birds. "His family are the great legal fraternity among 

 birds ; nimbleness of wit mingled with audacity characterise them 

 all, so that the very first time that I observed the hoodie crow at 

 home I was struck with his laughable resemblance to a barrister 

 in wig and gown. There was the same keen eye for the short- 



VOL. II 8 



