THE FLORIDA CORMORANT. 
145 
on the St. John’s river, while on board the United States’ schooner-of-war 
Spark, I was surprised to see the number of these Cormorants already 
returning towards the keys, so much so that had I been the discoverer of 
that stream under similar circumstances, I should in all probability have 
named it Cormorant river. While we were at anchor near its mouth, they 
passed close to us in long single files almost continually, and, on reaching 
the sea, bore away towards the south along the shores. 
On the Mississippi, in the month of October, when the temperature is 
considerably lower than in the Floridas, you see these birds during the day 
standing in their usual inclined position, on the sawyers and planters, as if 
resting there — so at least was the case in the autumn of 1820, — or on the 
dead branches of trees along the shores. In cloudy days they sailed high in 
the air, and in wide circles, after which, as if aware of cold weather being at 
hand, they swiftly followed in long lines the meandering course of the 
stream, at a considerable elevation. While sailing aloft, they frequently 
uttered a note not unlike that of the Kaven in similar circumstances. When 
approached while standing on a planter, instead of taking to wing at once, 
although elevated several feet above the water, they prefer plunging first into 
the stream, when they almost instantly rise to the surface, paddle with their 
feet, and beat with their wings for twenty or thirty yards, and then rise into 
the air. Now and then, when of a sudden the weather becomes cold at 
night, you see them at early dawn join in numbers of fifty or perhaps a 
hundred, rise high in the air, arrange themselves in angular double files, 
and fly swiftly southward. 
When in fresh water streams they fish principally in the eddies, and as 
soon as one of them is depopulated, or proves unworthy of their farther 
search, they rise and fly about a foot above the surface to another place, 
where they continue to fish. In the inner lakes of the Floridas they fish at 
random anywhere, and this is equally the case around the Keys, and on the 
bays and inlets along the coast. In fine calm weather, when the sun is 
pouring down a flood of light and heat, the Cormorants in flocks betake 
themselves to some clean sand-bar or rocky isle, or alight on trees, where 
they spread out their wings, and bask at times for hours, in the manner of 
Vultures and Pelicans. 
The Florida Cormorant, like all the other species with which I am 
acquainted, swims deep, and dives with great expertness, so that it is almost 
useless to follow o.ne when wounded, unless it has been greatly injured. On 
seeing an enemy approach, it first beats the water with its wings, as if in 
play, or as it would do if washing itself, raises both wings for a minute or 
more, then paddles off, and takes to wing. When on a lake, they prefer 
diving to flying, swim with all but the neck and head under water, in the 
Vol. VII.— 19 
