THE CORMORANT. 



165 



Countless thousands from Flamborough Head to 

 Bempton should shun the RainclifF, which^ appa- 

 rently, differs in nothing but height from the other 

 parts of this bold and rocky shore. 



I am positive that we have not two species of 

 cormorant in Great Britain. The crested cormorant, 

 with a white spot on each thigh, is merely the com- 

 mon cormorant in his nuptial dress. This is not 

 the only bird which becomes highly ornamented 

 during the breeding season. On some future day, 

 when the storms of winter forbid all access to the 

 fields, and condemn me to the dull monotony of life 

 within doors, I may possibly take up the pen, and 

 write down a few remarks upon the change of 

 plumage in birds. 



The flesh of the cormorant possesses no flavour 

 that would suit the palate of our modern epicures. 

 Hence it is despised by aldermen, and, of course, 

 never served up at a Lord Mayor of London's feasts 

 On the sea coast, this poor bird is shot at by marks- 

 men through mere wanton pastime ; and when he 

 takes a flight inland, he runs great risk of never 

 getting back again to sea ; for nobody will befriend 

 him, on account of his well-known inclination to 

 make too free with the contents of well-stored fish- 

 ponds. Still, for my own part, I love to see him 

 come this way. Stay h6re, poor wandering mariner, 

 as long as it pleases thee to do so. The sight of 

 thee puts me in mind of the happy hours I spent in 

 reading the Metamorphoses at the Jesuits' College. 

 Well do I remember how beautifully the poet tells 

 ^hy affecting story, before thou wert reduced to the 

 M 3 



