412 THE CORMORANT. 



THE CORMORANT. 



THE fabulous story concerning the cormorant made a great impression 

 upon me in early youth ; and I well remember with what avidity I 

 first read his true history in the pages of Buffon. 



The old fable tells us that the cormorant was once a wool-merchant. 

 He entered into partnership with the bramble and the bat, and they 

 freighted a large vessel with wool. She struck on some rocks and 

 went to the bottom. This loss caused the firm to become bankrupt. 

 Since that disaster, the bat skulks in his hiding-hole until twilight, in 

 order that he may avoid his creditors ; the bramble seizes hold of 

 every passing sheep, to make up his loss by retaining part of its 

 wool ; while the cormorant is for ever diving into the waters of the 

 deep, in hopes of discovering whereabouts his foundered vessel lies. 

 So far for the fable, which will always bring pleasing recollections 

 into the minds of those who are fond of rural pursuits. 



The cormorants often pay me a visit in the winter season ; and, 

 could they but perceive that there is safety for them here, and great 

 danger elsewhere, they would remain with me while the water is un- 

 frozen. But they wander, unfortunately, through parts where protec- 

 tion is not afforded diem ; and, being outlandish birds in the eyes of 

 the neighbouring gamekeepers, they are immediately shot at. Those 

 which find their way here are so unconscious of danger, that, after 

 they have spent a considerable portion of time it diving for fish, they 

 will come and preen their feathers on the terrace which rises from 

 the water, within ten yards of the drawing-room windows. 



The cormorant may justly be styled the feathered terror of the 

 finny tribe. His skill in diving is most admirable, and his success 

 beyond belief. You may know him at a distance, among a thousand 

 water-fowl, by his upright neck, his body being apparently half- 

 immersed in the water, and by his being perpetually in motion when 

 not on land. While the ducks and teal and wigeons are stationary 

 on the pool, the cormorant is seen swimming to and fro, " as if in 

 quest of something." First raising his body nearly perpendicular, 

 down he plunges into the deep; and, after staying there a consider- 



