42 
dve an idea of the voracious disposition of 
this bird. In describing the Father Lash- 
er* (Cottus Scorpius, Lin J he says— 
« I once saw a trial of skill between a 
large one of this kind, and a Cormorant. 
TJie latter got the head and part of the body 
of the fish swallowed, but being wounded 
by the spines, I suppose, attempted to 
bring it up again ; however, this was not 
practicable, for these being placed the 
contrary way, hindered its return, and 
acted the same part as the barb of a hook, 
in fixing it firmer in the throat of the Cor- 
morant, which, after many attempts, and 
much struggling >was killed by it. When 
they were taken up, I opened the bird's 
throat, and measured the fish, which was 
one foot and half an inch in length ; the 
spines long, sharp, and strong, bared of 
the skin, with which they are ordinarily 
covered, by the struggles of the bird, and 
the longest fastened in its throat, so that 
• The head and mouth ef this fish are very large, and 
armed with sharp spines, as are the covers of the gills. 
These it has the power of erecting, by blowing out its 
cheeks, and this it does immediately upon its being 
caught. 
