COMMON CORMORANT. 461 



passed quickly downwards through the air, they moved their wings with 

 great rapidity, and the instant they reached the water they disappeared 

 beneath the surface. 



This Cormorant swims at times with astonishing speed, keeping it- 

 self deeply immersed. Now and then, should it apprehend danger, it 

 sinks so far as to shew only the head and neck, in the manner of the 

 Anhinga. When searching for food in clear shallow water, they fre- 

 quently swim with the rump rather elevated, and the head under, in 

 the manner of the Shoveller Duck on such occasions, as if they were 

 looking for prey on the bottom ; but I never observed them act thus 

 when the depth of water exceeded a few yards. They secure their prey 

 by diving and pursuing it under water, with the wings partially ex- 

 tended and employed as paddles, while the tail directs their course, and 

 checks or accelerates their speed. I have observed this in the Florida 

 Cormorant, as well as in the present species. I never saw one while fly- 

 ing plunge after its prey ; but I have repeatedly seen them drop from 

 a rock headlong into the sea when shot at for the purpose of observing 

 their actions. 



Cormorants, Pelicans, Ducks, and other water birds of various kinds, 

 are, like land birds, at times infested with insects which lodge near the roots 

 of their feathers ; and to clear themselves of this vermin, they beat up the 

 water about them by flapping their wings, their feathers being all the while 

 ruffled up, and rub or scratch themselves with their feet and claws, much 

 in the same manner as Turkeys and most land birds act, when scattering 

 up the dry warm earth or sand over them. The water birds after thus clean- 

 sing themselves remove, if perchers, and able to fly, to the branches of trees, 

 spread out their wings and tail in the sun, and after a while dress their 

 plumage. Those which are not perchers, or whose wings are too wet, 

 swim to the shores, or to such banks or rocks as are above water, and 

 there perform the same process. The Florida Cormorant is especially 

 addicted to this practice, and dives and plumes itself several times in the 

 day. The Double-crested and the present species, which inhabit colder 

 regions, seem to be satisfied with less frequent trimming, and go through 

 the operation only once a-day, at the warmest period. I never observed 

 any of these birds in their natural free state perform these actions in rainy 

 or even cloudy weather, but have frequently seen Cormorants in a state 

 of captivity do so on small artificial ponds, such as those of the London 

 Zoological Gardens. 



