THE CORMORANT. 391 



Cormorants are visited, they will be found huddled together 

 in their caves and crevices, perishing with hunger, and their 

 numbers daily thinning by death. If, indeed, they could 

 venture out, and bear the buffeting of the storm, they would 

 still fail in procuring food ; for, as in fishing, these birds 

 always carry their heads under water, in order that, with 

 their keen, clear, and beautiful eye, they may discover their 

 prey at a greater distance, it is obvious that in such com- 

 motion^ of the air and water, they would need even a quicker 

 glance than they possess. The use they make of their bills 

 in feeding shows remarkable ingenuity, as well as agility : if 

 the fish happens to be a flat one, a flounder, for instance, 

 they will turn it, so as to plape it in the most commodious 

 position for slipping down the throat ; if, on the contrary, it 

 happens to be an eel, which has been seized in an unfavour- 

 able position for gorging, they will throw it up, as a cook 

 does a pancake, and catch it in the fall. 



Wild and desolate as are the habitations of these birds, 

 and little as they seem to have in common with man, yet, 

 judging from one which, was caught young, and reared, they 

 are not only docile, but grateful and affectionate. This bird,* 

 though it had fasted twenty-four hours, during its journey by 

 coach to the place where it was sent as a present, refused 

 every sort of food. It was therefore crammed with raw 

 flesh, as no fish could be procured. It submitted patiently 

 to this forced meat, and was left by the gentleman, who 

 retired to his library after seeing it fed, but who was not a 

 little surprised, in a few minutes, to see the bird walking boldly 

 into the room, and, when before the fire, beginning to plume 

 its feathers, as much at ease as if seated on its native rocks. 

 It was removed to a menagerie, and supplied with water, into 

 which it immediately plunged, and manifested much restless- 

 ness, as if disappointed in not finding fish. After this it 

 gradually became more docile, and fed upon whatever was 

 offered ; and if let out, never attempted to ramble, but walk- 

 ing direct to the house, would enter the first open door, with- 



* See MONTAGUE'S Ornithol. Diet. 



