olG 
PELECANID^E. 
under every wave that threatens to break. Occasionally they 
will resort to the fresh-water lochs, where the Shag is much 
less frequently to be seen. Their movements are to a great 
extent dependent on those of the shoals of sillacks, the staple 
of their food, the havoc committed among these young fish in 
the course of a season being something incalculable, causing 
mortal hatred on the part of the fishermen toward either 
species. In diving for fish, they commonly remain under 
water about twenty or twenty-five seconds, and will often go 
down very deep. It is curious to watch a flock feeding inshore, 
if one can succeed in escaping their observation ; which, no 
very easy matter at any time, is rendered doubly difficult by 
the occasional officiousness of a Herring Gull, seeing you from 
aloft, and repeatedly sweeping down upon the Cormorants 
with a note of alarm. How you may see one of them struggling 
with an eel a foot and a half long, and now another swimming 
hurriedly about in all the agonies of choking with too large a 
morsel, probably a flat fish caught in one of the deep dives. 
This choking process is far too well understood by the birds 
to attract any attention from the rest of the flock, unless, 
indeed, tlie tail of the unwilling prey be visible, when a dis- 
interested friend will readily volunteer his services. Presently 
a lieavy old bird will draw off from the Ashing, for the best of 
all reasons, and, perching on a little isolated rock, will hang 
himself out for drying and digestion, remaining motionless with 
expanded wings for a whole hour together. An old Cormorant 
may often be seen sitting among the Shags ; but if alarmed he 
will go one way on taking to the water and the Shags another, 
all diving the instant they touch the surface. A wounded 
bird is a very awkward antagonist for a dog, whether on land 
or in the water. Sometimes, on shore, it will throw itself on its 
back and fight like a hawk, using its sharp pectinated claw 
to good purpose ; while, afloat, none but a very good retriever 
lias any chance with it. 
The Cormorant is very easily domesticated, and when 
treated >vith kindness will become exceedingly docile, exhibit- 
