484 PELECANID^E. 



training, to insure his return; having satisfied the wants 

 of his master, the collar is taken off, and the bird is then 

 allowed to fish for himself. On other occasions, when 

 well trained, two birds are taken by the fishermen upon 

 the water on a raft to fish, as shown in the representa- 

 tion used as a vignette at the end of this subject. The 

 Cormorants appear to fish and rest by turns, and are as- 

 sisted in gaining a footing upon the raft by the fisherman 

 using a short pole. 



Sir Robert Shafto Adair told me that a pair of Cormo- 

 rants took to, fed, and brought up a nest of young Ravens, 

 the natural parents of which had both been destroyed. 

 The game-keeper was desired to watch the proceedings, 

 and reported that the Cormorants brought a constant sup- 

 ply of fish. Cormorants are found at Corfu, Sicily, and 

 Malta. Mr. Drummond observed that they were numerous 

 on both lakes at Biserta, near Tunis ; and Mr. Strickland 

 says Cormorants abound in the harbour of Constantinople, 

 and roost on the roofs of the houses. 



The Cormorant inhabits the North-western portions of 

 India, Calcutta, and China. 



The adult bird during spring, and the early part of sum- 

 mer, has the bill pale brown, the point horny, hooked, 

 and sharp ; irides green ; forehead, crown, nape, and part 

 of the neck black, mixed with many white hair-like fea- 

 thers, the black feathers on the occiput elongated, forming 

 a crest ; base of the upper mandible, and the gular pouch 

 yellow, the pouch margined with white ; the back and 

 wing-coverts dark brown, each feather margined with 

 black ; quill-feathers and tail black ; lower part of the 

 neck all round with the breast and all the under surface of 

 the body a rich velvet-like bluish-black, except a patch on 

 the thigh, which is white ; the legs, toes, and their con- 



