462 COMMON CORMORANT. 



When they have landed after cleansing themselves by washing, they 

 usually extend their wings, and flap them for a while, in the manner of 

 youno- birds of any kind when trying the strength of their wings before 

 leaving the nest. They are extremely regular in returning to the same 

 places to roost, at the approach of night, when hundreds appear to con- 

 gregate on their way there, as they pass over the different fishing grounds. 

 Those that have no broods, spend the night apart from the rest, standing 

 nearly erect in files on the most elevated shelves, to which they ascend in 

 the manner of some Hawks, when about to perch on any elevated spot. In 

 winter, however, I observed some near Boston roosting singly, and im- 

 mediately over their fishing places, which are usually the eddies under the 

 projecting points of rocky islands. They are shy and wary at all periods ; 

 but when congregated in the day, it is almost impossible to approach 

 them while fishing, for they dive and return to the surface one after ano- 

 ther, so that one or more are constantly on the watch, and act as sentinels. 

 It is in general quite useless to pursue one that has been wounded. 



The flight of this species is strong, swift, and remarkably sustained. 

 They usually fly in long strings, now and then forming angles, at a mo- 

 derate elevation in the air. When on the rocks, they stand erect on their 

 rump, with the neck gracefully curved, and resting between the shoulders. 

 You may see them in hundreds, when they look like a crowd of black 

 dominoes. If alarmed, they extend their neck to its full length, and move 

 their head sideways to observe your motions ; and if you approach them, 

 they gradually raise and extend their wings, elevate the tail, incline the 

 body forwards, and fly off" in silence. 



All our Cormorants feed principally on fish of various kinds. When 

 thev have seized one that is too large to be swallowed entire, they carry 

 it to the shore, or to the branch of a ti-ee, and there thrash and tear it to 

 pieces. Some fishes which they have swallowed evidently incommode 

 them, and on such occasions I have sometimes seen them shake their heads 

 with great violence, and disgorge the fish, or pass it downwards into the 

 stomach. The young ones which we kept several weeks at Labrador, 

 performed both actions, but generally the first. All the species are ex- 

 pert at tossing up a fish inconveniently caught, a foot or so above their 

 head, and receiving it in their extended gullet, in the same manner as the 

 Frigate Pelican, of which an account will be given in the present vo- 

 lume. Some which I have observed in a domesticated state, were so ex- 

 pert at receiving a fish thrown to them from the distance of several vards, 



