PELICANS. 323 



Colonel Montagu on a Cormorant, which, though 

 not of the present species, was nearly allied ; and 

 with these notes we close our volume on Birds. 

 A specimen of the Great Cormorant (P. carbo, 

 LINN.) kept by him was extremely docile, of a 

 grateful disposition, and by no means of a savage 

 or vindictive spirit. He received it by coach after 

 it had been twenty -four hours on the road ; yet 

 though it must have been very hungry, it rejected 

 every sort of food he could offer to it, even raw 

 flesh; but as he could not procure fish at the 

 time, he was compelled to cram it with raw flesh, 

 which it swallowed with evident reluctance, though 

 it did not attempt to strike him with its formidable 

 beak. When removed to the aquatic menagerie, 

 it became restless and agitated at the sight of the 

 water, and when set at liberty plunged and dived 

 without intermission for a considerable time, with- 

 out capturing or even discovering, a single fish ; 

 when, apparently convinced that there were none 

 to be found, it made no farther attempt for three 

 days. 



Colonel Montagu afterwards noticed the dex- 

 terity with which it seized its prey. If a fish was 

 thrown into the water at a distance, it would dive 

 immediately, pursuing its course under the surface, 

 in a direct line towards the spot, never failing to 

 take the fish, and that frequently before it reached 

 the bottom. The quantity it would devour was 

 astonishing; three or four pounds twice a-day 

 were swallowed, the digestion being excessively 

 rapid. It lived in perfect harmony with the wild 

 Swan, wild Goose, Ducks of various species, and 

 other birds, but to a Gull with a piece of fish it 

 would instantly give chase ; in this it seemed 



