104 MARVELS OF THE ANIMAL WORLD 



might more easily support the weight of his feathered 

 companion. 



In China and Japan it has for long been the 

 custom for the people to train cormorants to capture 

 fish and bring them to their masters. As a general 

 rule the birds wear a rubber ring or collar around 

 their necks, to which a cord is attached ; the former 

 being employed in order to prevent the feathered 

 hunters from swallowing their prey, and the latter 

 being used for the purpose of hauling them back 

 to the boat or bank from which the operations are 

 conducted. The most highly -trained birds, however, 

 are allowed full freedom of movement and do not 

 wear any collar. 



