THE COMMON CORMORANT. 
127 
satisfied with less frequent trimming, and go ' through the operation only 
once a-day, at the warmest period. I never observed any of these birds 
in their natural free state perform these actions in rainy or even cloudy 
weather, but have frequently seen Cormorants in a state of captivity do so 
on small artificial ponds, such as those of the London Zoological Gardens. 
When they have landed after cleansing themselves by washing, they 
usually extend their wings, and flap them for awhile, in the manner of 
young birds of any kind when trying the strength of their wings before 
leaving the nest. They are extremely regular in returning to the same 
places to roost, at the approach of night, when hundreds appear to congre- 
gate on their way there, as they pass over the different fishing grounds. 
Those that have no broods, spend the night apart from the rest, standing 
nearly erect in files on the most elevated shelves, to which they ascend in 
the manner of some Hawks, when about to perch on any elevated spot. 
In winter, however, I observed some near Boston roosting singly, and 
immediately over their fishing places, which are usually the eddies under 
the projecting points of rocky islands. They are shy and wary at all 
periods ; but when congregated in the day, it is almost impossible to 
approach them while fishing, for they dive and return to the surface one 
after another, so that one or more are constantly on the watch, and act as 
sentinels. It is in general quite useless to pursue one that has been wounded. 
The flight of this species is strong, swift, and remarkably sustained. They 
usually fly in long strings, now and then forming angles, at a moderate 
elevation in the air. When on the rocks, they stand erect on their rump, 
with the neck gracefully curved, and resting between the shoulders. You 
may see them in hundreds, when they look like a crowd of black dominoes. 
If alarmed, they extend their neck to its full length, and move their head 
sideways to observe your motions ; and if you approach them, they gradually 
raise and extend their wings, elevate the tail, incline the body forwards, 
and fly off in silence. 
All our Cormorants feed principally on fish of various kinds. When they 
have seized one that is too large to be swallowed entire, they carry it to the 
shore, or to the branch of a tree, and there thrash and tear it to pieces. 
Some fishes which they have swallowed evidently incommode them, and on 
such occasions I have sometimes seen them shake their heads with great 
violence, and disgorge the fish, or pass it downwards into the stomach. The 
young ones which we kept several weeks at Labrador, performed both 
actions, but generally the first. All the species are expert at tossing up a 
fish inconveniently caught, a foot or so above their head, and receiving it in 
their extended gullet, in the same manner as the Frigate Pelican. Some 
which I have observed in a domesticated state, were so expert at receiving a 
