The Cormorant t&i 



tank willi water and fish, you jMit tlie birds in, and so entice them to fish, re- 

 warding them by removing the strap and giving them a bit of fish. These lessons, 

 especially with the example of an old hand or ' make bird,' will soon get them 

 ready for the brook or pond * * * *. They will go at any sort of fish, but 

 perch are apt to hurt them with their large dorsal fins, unless they have their 

 straps off. If there are no fish in the place yon are ' drawing,' they will let 3'ou 

 know this by flapping their wings. To make young birds hold fish, strap all 

 your birds and give one a fish of some size, and you will find he will keep it 

 down to prevent being robbed b}' the others. Tlic best way of keeping trained 

 Cormorants, is to place large stones in a yard littered down with straw, and sup- 

 plied with a bath, for they wash after feeding. From this 3-ard there should be 

 a warm open shed, also supplied with large stones for tbem to sit upon if they 

 like to retire there. This place must be either walled in, or fenced in, with upright 

 palings, for I have found that, otherwise, they can pull themselves up -with their 

 bills in parrot fashion, and so get out. They should only be fed once a day, 

 allowing them a ' full gorge ' on Saturday's, occasionally when you are not working 

 them, for when you are using them, they require to be underfed." 



The Cormorant walks badly on land, but as a diver it has few equals, except 

 perhaps the Darter and the Penguin, progressing under water by means of its feet, if 

 not by both feet and wings. " The activity the bird displa3's under water," remarks 

 Professor Newton, " is almost incredible to those who have not seen its performances, 

 and in a shallow river scarcely a fish escapes its keen e3'es and sudden turns." 

 It flies rapidl3% but rather heavih^, with its neck outstretched, and its legs extended 

 under. its tail. 



Cormorants are extremel3' voracious and "full of glotonie," and "when gorged 

 or when the state of the tide precludes fishing, the3' are fond," as Professor 

 Newton observes, " of sitting on an elevated perch, often with extended wings, and 

 in this attitude they will sit motionless for a considerable time, as though hanging 

 themselves out to dr3% but hardl3", as the fishermen report, sleeping the while. It 

 was perhaps this peculiarity that struck the obser\-ation of Milton, and prompted 

 his well-known similitude of Satan to a Cormorant," who 



"On the tree of life 

 The middle tree and highest tree that grew. 

 Sat like a Cormorant,"' 



"but w-hen not thus behaving, the3- themselves provoke the more homeh- comparison 

 of a row of black bottles." 



The Cormorant lives to a considerable age. A bird belonging to ^Ir. Salvin, 

 attained to twent3'-three 3'ears, and Avas the progenitor of the first Cormorant bred 

 in captivit3' in England. 



