286 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Nest Eggs Property of its flesh. 



ceedingly swift upon the shores,, continuing to 

 sing, and cry as it flies. It is common upon 

 most of the sea coasts in England, and upon the 

 banks of rivers, and is said to feed upon beetles 

 and small insects. 



The flesh is said by Aristotle, ./Elian, Heleo- 

 dorus, and others, to be a certain cure for the 

 jaundice ; and some authors have not scrupled 

 to affirm, that the bare looking upon this bird is 

 a present remedy for that distemper. 



This, toge'.her with its property of hiding itself 

 all day, and only flying abroad in the night, gave 

 rise to the proverb like a sea -lark, applied to 

 such persons as enviously concealed any thing, 

 the knowledge of which might be of public use 

 or benefit. 



CORMORANT, OR CORFORANT. 



THE weight of this bird is about seven pounds, 

 and its size (though it is much more slender) is 

 that of a goose. It is to be distinguished from 

 all other birds of this kind, by its four toes being 

 united together by membranes ; and by the mid- 

 dle toe being toothed or notched, like a saw, to 

 assist it in holding its fishy prey. The head and 

 neck are of a brownish black ; and the body 

 thick and heavy, more inclining in figure to that 

 of the goose than the gull. The bill is straight, 

 till near the end> where the upper chap bends 





