1 86 THE DUCKS, CORMORANTS AND GREBES. 



so little duck-shooting to be had in the vicinity of 

 Bombay. The ducks are here, and they feed wher- 

 ever there is food, but they get away before day-light 

 and sleep on the open sea. All through the cold 

 season you may hear the sound of wings at night, as 

 a flock passes overhead, in places where you will look 

 for them in vain by day. 



I need not try to describe the different species of wild 

 Ducks, for a man who does not shoot will not easily 

 learn to distinguish one from another, but he may know 

 enough not to confound them with the Coot, which 

 has already been described, or with the Cormorant. 

 The little Cormorant (Graculus javanicus in Jerdon) 

 is a very common bird on this coast, especially up 

 the creeks, and I daresay it often passes for a sort 

 of black Duck, but it differs from a Duck as a gentle- 

 man differs from a loafer. The Cormorant is a 

 thoroughly shabby bird, with a large, ragged tail, and 

 coloured all over a sordid black, like the Sunday coat 

 of a Goanese cook. At least, this is its aspect at a 

 distance. In its habits also it is unlike a Duck. It 

 seldom rests on the water, but perches on rocks, or 

 even on trees, sitting very upright. It flies well, but 

 generally at no great height and slowly, compared 

 with a wild Duck ; not in orderly flocks either, but sing- 

 ly, or in small, loose parties. Its beak is not flat, but 

 narrow and a little hooked at the tip, the use of it 

 being to catch and hold a slippery fish, for the Cormo- 

 rant is a fisher by trade. The Chinese tame them and 

 employ them as divers, fitting a ring on their neck to 

 prevent them swallowing what they catch, which 

 seems mean. The Hindoo fisherman is not so ingeni- 

 ous as the Chinaman and has not discovered this use 



