A Cormorant's breeding colony is not exactly a pleasant place to visit." 



THE COMMON CORMORANT 



T 



HIS bird lias an exceedingly 

 wide geographical distri- 

 bution, for it is found all 

 over Europe, in Asia, 

 Northern Africa, and on 

 the Atlantic shores of 

 North America. It may 

 be easily distinguished 

 from its near relative the Green Cor- 

 morant, or Shag, by its greater size, 

 and the absence of green from the 

 colour of its plumage. 



It feeds upon fishes, which it pursues 

 under water, and can catch with equal 

 ease and dexterity in river, lake, or sea. 

 When captured young it is easily tamed, 

 and for generations Chinese and Japanese 

 fishermen have taken advantage of this 

 fact, and made use of the bird's services 

 in obtaining a livelihood. A leather 



strap or ring is placed round the Cor- 

 morant's neck, in such a way as to allow 

 it to breathe freely, but yet prevent it 

 from swallowing its prey. The bird is 

 then taken out to the fishing grounds 

 on a raft and released. After it has 

 dived a number of times and obtained 

 a little rest between each capture, as 

 it does in a natural state, its Oriental 

 master removes the ring or strap and 

 allows his feathered assistant to do a 

 little fishing on its own account. 



Cormorants are very fond of standing 

 on a post in the water, or upon some 

 dead tree stump overhanging it, also 

 of basking with outspread wings on an 

 ocean rock, and when a group of birds 

 is seen standing in a row thus engaged 

 the sight is a very curious one indeed. 



This species breeds generally round 



