i66 British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



and dark brown feet. After their next antiimn monlt, when the birds are 

 soniewliat over a j-ear old, more of the metallic sheen, which will mark their 

 maturity, appears on the upper surface, and the white on the under side is less. 

 After one or perhaps two more moults, the latter finally gives place to black, glossed 

 with splendid metallic green. In its winter garb, the mature Cormorant, — male 

 or female, for the plumage of both is the same, — is a magnificent bird. The upper 

 surface is deep black, glossed with bronze, each feather margined with a darker 

 metallic border, the back generally presenting rich metallic green, or purple, re- 

 flections, var3'ing with the incidence of the light, and the position of the eye. The 

 wings and the tail, in which there are fourteen feathers, are also black, washed 

 with metallic green ; throat, and sides of the head, white ; rest of the head, the 

 neck, breast, and bell}-, deep glossy purplish black, washed with metallic green ; 

 bill more or less dark horn colour; legs and feet black; bare skin of face and 

 throat, and base of bill greenish yellow ; e3^es rich sparkling bronzy- green. 



In the earl}^ spring, the birds begin to add, without a moult, to their already 

 splendid Avinter garb, the nuptial adornments of a large white patch on each thigh, 

 and a number of beautiful, elongated, slender white feathers on the top of the 

 head, and along both sides of the neck. These are all, however, cast again as soon 

 as their home is well established, or even, perhaps, before the nesting time. 



The Cormorant, though a shy and war}' bird, being, when taken yoting, 

 easil}' tamed, does well in captivit}', and will reward kindly treatment with much 

 affection. It is also a verj^ intelligent bird, and has been for centuries employed 

 b}- the Chinese to fish for them — a strap being tied round the neck when the 

 birds are so engaged, to prevent them swallowing their captures. This practice 

 which was introduced into England in the reign of Charles I, became a royal sport, 

 in charge of a "Master of Cormorants," a high office of the Household; but it 

 gradually fell out of repute. The pastime was, however, revived a number of 

 years ago b}- Mr. F. H. Salvin, the well known Falconer, who keeps a number 

 of birds, and has described, in the Field for 1890, how to train Cormorants to fish 

 properly. 



" You must," he says, " put on a fencing mask, ear lappets, and gloves to 

 prevent their biting, and attach noose jesses to their legs for the purpose of 

 putting them down and taking them up from the ground, all of which helps to 

 tame them, especially if long drills are given them during the morning and 

 evening. Cormorants' necks being very strong and elastic, these birds may be 

 handled b}- the neck without jerking or roughness. When sufficient!}' tame, you 

 begin to train them; for which end 3^ou put a small one-buckled strap on their 

 necks, which, must not be buckled too tight, and having supplied a large deep 



