MODERN CLIFF-DWELLERS 



me, nor as horizontal as the Puffins. How these 

 scenes impress themselves on the memory of a 

 bird-lover ! 



After the breeding -season the various Cliff- 

 Dwellers leave their summer haunts and scatter over 

 the ocean, yet keeping mostly "on soundings." By 

 the latter part of September, or early October, lines 

 of Cormorants, with slow, measured flight begin to 

 wing their way along the southern New England 

 coast, even flying over the land. Many people mis- 

 take this for an early flight of Geese, and wonder 

 why they fly at this time in silence, without 

 " honking." Quite often flocks alight in the larger 

 ponds to rest and quench their thirst. I recall how, 

 one beautiful October day, about thirty of them 

 settled down in Lake Nippenickett, and remained 

 out in the centre for over half an hour, resting and 

 drinking the fresh water. Then they rose, to con- 

 tinue their southward flight. Unfortunately for 

 them they passed over a gunning-stand on a point 

 of land, where a hunter lay in wait for ducks. 

 Though they were quite high up, one shot took 

 effect, and a great black creature came tumbling 

 down. When I reached the spot I found that it 

 was a Double-crested Cormorant. At any time 

 during the autumn they may be seen resorting to 

 certain low, rocky islands and ledges off the coast, 

 and to some extent during the winter. Returning 

 northward in the spring, they gather in flocks in 

 certain bays, and fly out, often over projections of 

 land. A fisherman, some years ago, told me that 



9' 



