434 THE FLORIDA CORMORANT. . 



on the St. John's river, while on board the United States' schooner- of- war 

 Spark, I was surprised to see the number of these Cormorants already 

 returning towards the keys, so much so that had I been the discoverer of 

 that stream under similar circumstances, I should in all probability have 

 named it Cormorant river. While we were at anchor near its mouth, they 

 passed close to us in long single files almost continually, and, on reaching the 

 sea, bore away towards the south along the shores. 



On the Mississippi, in the month of October, when the temperature is 

 considerably lower than in the Floridas, you see these birds during the day 

 standing in their usual inclined position, on the sawyers and planters, as if 

 resting there — so at least was the case in the autumn of 1S20, — or on the 

 dead branches of trees along the shores. In cloudy days they sailed high in 

 the air, and in wide circles, after which, as if aware of cold weather being at 

 hand, they swiftly followed in long lines the meandering course of the 

 stream, at a considerable elevation. While sailing aloft, they frequently 

 uttered a note not unlike that of the Raven in similar circumstances. When 

 approached while standing on a planter, instead of taking to wing at once, 

 although elevated several feet above the water, they prefer plunging first into 

 the stream, when they almost instantly rise to the surface, paddle with their 

 feet, and beat with their wings for twenty or thirty yards, and then rise into 

 the air. Now and then, when of a sudden the weather becomes cold at 

 night, you see them at early dawn join in numbers of fifty or perhaps a 

 hundred, rise high in the air, arrange themselves in angular double files, and 

 fly swiftly southward. 



When in fresh water streams they fish principally in the eddies, and as 

 soon as one of them is depopulated, or proves unworthy of their farther 

 search, they rise and fly about a foot above the surface to another place, 

 where they continue to fish. In the inner lakes of the Floridas they fish at 

 random any where, and this is equally the case around the Keys, and on the 

 bays and inlets along the coast. In fine calm weather, when the sun is 

 pouring down a flood of light and heat, the Cormorants in flocks betake 

 themselves to some clean sand-bar or rocky isle, or alight on trees, where 

 they spread out their wings, and bask at times for hours, in the manner of 

 Vultures and Pelicans. 



The Florida Cormorant, like all the other species with which I am 

 acquainted, swims deep, and dives with great expertness, so that it is almost 

 useless to follow one when wounded, unless it has been greatly injured. On 

 seeing an enemy approach, it first beats the water with its wings, as if in 

 play, or as it would do if washing itself, raises both wings for a minute or 

 more, then paddles off, and takes to wing. When on a lake, they prefer 

 diving to flying, swim with all but the neck and head under water, in the 



