THE BIRDS 287 



varied in many cases with small crustaceans, or sometimes even 

 newts and frogs. When first hatched the young are fed by the 

 parent birds with partially digested and regurgitated food, and 

 as they grow older they thrust their heads into their parents' 

 gaping bills and help themselves to the contents of the pouch. 

 These birds are very expert in catching fish, and when engaged 

 in this pursuit will swim for a long time with the head under water ; 

 they are voracious, and will often catch more fish than they can 

 possibly swallow. In China and Japan Cormorants are trained 

 to catch fish, a strap being fastened round the neck to prevent 

 them swallowing their prey, which is taken from them by their 

 owners. Fishing with Cormorants is also practised as a sport in 

 various parts of Europe. On land these birds have an ungainly 

 waddle, but their flight, though heavy, is strong and swift, and 

 in spite of their webbed feet they are able to perch easily on rocks, 

 posts and even in trees. They are said, too, to be able to cling 

 to the face of a cliff, and in some cases to climb about with ease 

 amongst dense vegetation. 



The Snake-bird, or Darter (Plotus anhinga), is a native of tropical 

 and sub-tropical America. It is distinguished from the cormorant 

 by its longer body and its peculiarly long, snake-like neck, at the 

 end of which is a small head, flat and narrow, terminating in a 

 long, fine, tapering bill. Darters frequent inland lakes and rivers 

 and inlets of the sea, and are fond of sunning themselves on a post, 

 a tree stump, rock, or a tuft of stout rushes. Fish is their principal 

 food, which the birds impale on the end of their dagger-like beaks. 

 They swim with the body submerged, the head and neck alone 

 being exposed, which, as the birds move through the water, sways 

 from side to side in a graceful, snake-like manner ; from this 

 peculiarity the Darters have gained the popular name of " Snake- 

 birds." 



The Frigate-bird, or Man- of -War Bird (F regains aquila), is a 

 handsome, powerful bird frequenting the tropic seas. It is pelagic 

 in its habits, and is constantly on the wing, seldom being seen 

 near land, except in the breeding season. Strong and graceful in 

 its flight, the Frigate-bird often soars aloft until it is almost lost 

 to sight, and from this it has gained the picturesque title of the 

 " Son-of-the-Sun." 



The Frigate-bird is slender in build, its neck is short and thick, 



