2 PELECANID^E 



though I have seen a very young duckling snatched off the 

 surface of an ornamental pond and demolished entire. 1 



Unlike the Auks and other diving species, the Cormorant 

 does not use its wings to propel itself under water, but 

 depends entirely on its huge feet. Owing to the length and 

 flexibility of its neck, which it can retract and shoot out 

 witfe ike speed pi & Serpent's strike, and the high speed with 

 which it c'arT trartfei binder water, it can overtake its finny 

 pT^y.withcfchfe^reatest'ease. Eels are frequently seized, and 

 the 'Corm6r'an% foaS fo'tfen seen rising to the surface with one 

 of those fish held transversely in its beak. Under such cir- 

 cumstances the bird generally manages to jerk its prey into 

 the air and swallow it head-foremost. 2 I have seen a Cor- 

 morant coine up to the surface to swallow a large flat-fish, 

 but under ordinary circumstances it will consume several 

 small fish under water, before rising to take breath. This 

 can be demonstrated in the fresh-water tanks of our 

 Zoological Gardens, where the Cormorant thrives well. 

 This species can be readily trained to catch fish, and in 

 China and Japan it is extensively used for the purpose. 



Cormorants often fare badly in rough weather, the great 

 billows buffeting them about until they are dashed against 

 the headlands. During a tempest, some of the younger and 

 weaker members, being unable to venture out in search of 

 food, perish from hunger. 



Flight. In the air the Cormorant somewhat resembles 

 a great black goose, travelling along with outstretched neck 

 and rapidly beating pinions. Solitary individuals are usually 

 seen skimming over the waves, but, when taking long flights 

 in company, the birds will proceed in a V-shaped flock at 

 a considerable height in the air. 



On fresh-water lakes and rivers, where timber is plentiful, 

 Cormorants may be noticed alighting on trees, more par- 

 ticularly on the stout leafless stumps. 



1 This was a tragic scene which I witnessed at a Cormorant enclosure. 

 The duckling, in pursuit of flies, had only just ventured to pass through 

 one of the meshes of the wire netting, when the savage inmate' dashed 

 across the surface of the water with a great fluttering of wings, and 

 seizing the helpless fledgling, engulfed it in an instant. 



2 I have known a Cormorant to swallow an eel in this manner and 

 reappear almost immediately, with apparently another eel in its mouth, 

 but as this performance was repeated several times in very rapid suc- 

 cession, it is more than likely that the one tish had been disgorged and 

 reswallowed. 



