Photo: W. E, Berridge. 



CORMORANTS 



Cormorants are greedy fish-eaters, but it must be remembered 

 that they feed on many fishes, such as eels, which devour the fry of 

 useful food-fishes. They also keep a check on some other fry- 

 eating animals, such as crabs. The intricacy of the web of life is 

 such that it is occasionally difficult to get a clear issue for or against 

 a bird, as far as man's interests are concerned. There is often 

 something to be said on both sides. In China and Japan tame 

 cormorants are used by fishermen, a leather collar being placed 

 round the neck to prevent them swallowing what they seize. The 

 cormorant usually nests on the ledges of cliffs. When feeding its 

 young, the mother takes a great part of the chick's head into its 

 mouth. 



Photos: J. J. Ward. 



A PAIR OF LADY-BIRD BEETLES FEEDING ON 

 APHIDES OR GREEN-FLY 



These beautiful little beetles play a very important 

 part in checking the multiplication of plant pests. They 

 are very voracious, singularly free from enemies, and 

 very prolific. The leaf shows some of the "moults of the 

 Aphides." 



M'MMKR GREEN-FLY MULTI PLYING ON THE 

 FLOWER OF THE SWEET-PEA 



All through the summer the young are produced vivi- 

 parously from eggs which do not require fertilisation 

 (parthenogenesis). The young soon become mature and 

 bring forth another generation. There are no males till 

 near the end of the season. 



