416 DOCILITY AND CLEVERNESS. [CHAP. xii. 



containing one man and about ten or twelve birds in 

 each. The birds were standing perched on the sides of 

 the little boat, and apparently had just arrived at the 

 fishing ground, and were about to commence operations. 

 They were now ordered out of the boats by their 

 masters, and so well trained were they that they went 

 on the water immediately, scattered themselves over 

 the canal, and began to look for fish. They have a 

 beautiful sea-green eye, and quick as lightning they 

 see and dive upon the finny tribe, which, once caught 

 in the sharp notched bill of the bird, never by any pos- 

 sibility can escape. The Cormorant now rises to the 

 surface with the fish in its bill, and the moment he is 

 seen by the Chinaman, he is called back to the boat. 

 As docile as a dog, he swims after his master, and 

 allows himself to be pulled into the San-pan (boat), 

 where he disgorges his prey, and again resumes his 

 labours. And, what is more wonderful still, if one of 

 the Cormorants gets hold of a fish of large size, so large 

 that he would have some difficulty in taking it to the 

 boat, some of the others, seeing his dilemma, hasten to 

 his assistance, and, with their efforts united, capture 

 the animal and haul him off to the boat. Sometimes a 

 bird seemed to get lazy or playful, and swam about 

 without attending to his business ; and then the China- 

 man, with a long bamboo, which he used for propelling 

 the boat, struck the water near where the bird was, 

 without, however, hurting him, calling out to him at 

 the same time in an angry tone. Immediately, like 

 the truant school-boy who neglects his lessons and is 

 found out, the Cormorant gives up his play and resumes 

 his labours. A small string is put round the neck of 

 the bird to prevent him from swallowing the fish which 



