518 PelicanidcB. 



in our small boat ; or rising in the air and flapping with enormous 

 wing overhead, with the sun shining on their cream-coloured 

 plumage tinged with pink, are a sight not readily forgotten. 



The principal characteristics of this family are to be observed 

 in the foot, which consists of four toes, all directed forwards, and 

 all connected with a membrane ; in the beak, which is strong, 

 large, and terminating with a powerful hook ; in the legs, which 

 are remarkably short, sturdy, and strong; and in the wings, 

 which are moderately long and equal to very vigorous flight. 

 There are two genera belonging to this family in the British list, 

 the Cormorants and the Gannets, and I have instances of the 

 appearance of both of them in Wiltshire. 



217. COMMON CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carlo). 



In many respects this bird partakes of the general habits of 

 the Divers and Auks : thus on land it sits erect, and is awkward 

 enough, although it can walk with somewhat more ease than the 

 Colymbidse or AlcacLe : it swims with the body deeply immersed; 

 and it dives with great readiness and celerity : but unlike that 

 family it can perch on trees, and grasp the branches with its toes ; 

 while its flight is strong and rapid. It lives on fish, and (perhaps 

 to enable it to retain the slippery body of its victim) the claw of 

 the middle toe is serrated or indented with comb-like teeth. 

 The quantity of fish it consumes is enormous, and it is not 

 without reason that it has become the type of gluttony. More- 

 over, it is an ill-favoured, slouchiDg, unclean bird, and seen sitting 

 on the rocks gorged with food, and staring with haggard, 

 scowling eyes, and spreading out its wings to dry, coupled with 

 its foul odour, it always reminds me of that most unsavoury bird, 

 in my eyes, the Egyptian Neophron, and accordingly is no 

 favourite with me. Montagu, however, has a good word to say 

 for it, for he describes it as docile, and by no means of a savage 

 spirit, and easily domesticated, while its diving powers are 

 incredible. He adds that it has a habit of violently beating the 

 water with its wings, without moving from the spot, each beating 

 being succeeded by a shake of the whole body, and ruffling of all 



