BRITISH BIRDS. 129 



appearance ; the marvellous thing about them is their docility, in which 

 they quite equal the hounds, spaniels, and hawks of Europe, each being 

 at the bid and beck of the boatman. 



" Several were perched on the edge of the boat, looking as if satisfied 

 they had done a day's work, yet watching the eye of their master to dash into 

 the river at his signal. The others were dispersed across the breadth of the 

 river, diving about in search of prey, and working indefatigably, either till 

 they succeeded, or till they were called in by the well-known voice of the 

 keeper. Many had not to dive long before they caught large or small fish, 

 which they immediately brought in their bills to their master. One or 

 two, although as obedient to the orders as the rest, were observed not to 

 be so trusty as their messmates. The fisherman, who kept a sharp look-out 

 on his charge, perceiving that these had, on the sly, swallowed the fish they 

 seized, by a stroke of his guiding-rod on the water and a shout of his voice, 

 brought them up to the side of the skiff. He at once caught them by the 

 neck, and made them disgorge the fishy contents of their stomachs, whole 

 and undigested fishes of no mean dimensions. He then dismissed them 

 to double work. They had neither ring nor cord round their necks. 

 Wherever the boat moved they followed, as quick at interpreting the 

 pointing of the fisherman's rod as they did the variations of his voice. They 

 were well fed on eels, fish-refuse, bean-curd, &c., but are sent a-fishing 

 before feed-time, or only when very hungry." 



