CORMORANT— SNAKE-BIRD 25 



apt to kill each other, the sharp and heavy beak deal- 

 ing terrible blows. 



The nestlings are ugly little creatures, covered with 

 short black down, which gives place to a brown plum- 

 age. The eyes of the young are brown, also. Not 

 until they are fully grown is the dark-green dress 

 assumed. See Plate 37, Fig. 218. 



The wonderful skill displayed by the Cormorant in 

 its pursuit of fish is turned to good account by the 

 Chinese and Japanese, who domesticate these birds 

 and train them to catch fish. By the ingenious device 

 of placing a ring around the neck, their masters pre- 

 vent the birds from swallowing their captures, and 

 compel them to bring each fish as it is caught to the 

 raft from which the fishing is carried on. 



There are many species of Cormorants, the smallest 

 being but twenty-two inches long. This species is 

 found in Central and South Europe, North Africa, 

 and Central and Southwest Asia. The largest species, 

 known as Harris's Cormorant, is nearly extinct, and 

 is found only in one of the Galapagos Islands, off the 

 coast of South America. It is much larger than the 

 common Cormorant, but has quite lost the power of 

 flight, and so does not have the keel of the breast-bone. 



Very nearly related to the Cormorant is a remark- 

 able bird known as the Darter, Snake-bird, or Water 

 Turkey, differing chiefly in the great length and slen- 

 derness of the neck, from which character it derives its 

 common name. The beak of the Snake-bird is quite 

 unlike that of the Cormorant, being very sharply 

 pointed, while its edges are armed with fine needle-like 

 spines. When fishing, the Darter spears its victim, 



