Cuar. VII.] THEIR ACTIONS DESCRIBED. 111 
again resumes his labours. And, what is more 
wonderful still, if one of the cormorants gets hold 
of a fish of large size, so large that he would have 
some difficulty in taking it to the boat, some of the 
others, seeing his dilemma, hasten to his assistance, 
and with their efforts united capture the animal and 
haul him off to the boat. Sometimes a bird seemed 
to get lazy or playful, and swam about without 
attending to his business; and then the Chinaman, 
with a long bamboo, which he also used for pro- 
pelling the boat, struck the water near where the 
bird was, without, however, hurting him, calling 
out to him at the same time in an angry tone. 
Immediately, like the truant school-boy who 
neglects his lessons and is found out, the cormo- 
rant gives up his play and resumes his labours. 
A small string is put round the neck of the bird, 
to prevent him from swallowing the fish which he 
catches; and great care is taken that this string 
is placed and fastened so that it will not slip farther 
down upon his neck and choke him, which other- 
wise it would be very apt to do. : 
Since I first saw these birds on the Ning-po canal 
I have had opportunities of inspecting them and 
their operations in many other parts of China, more 
particularly in the country between the towns of 
Hang-chow-foo and Shanghae. I also saw great 
numbers of them on the river Min, near Foo chow- 
foo. I was most anxious to get some living speci- 
mens, that I might take them home to England. 
Having great difficulty in inducing the Chinese to 
