THE CORMORANT. 
391 
Cormorants are visited, they will be found huddled together 
in their caves and crevices, perishing with hunger, and their 
numbers daily thinning by death. If, indeed, they could 
venture out, and hear the buffeting of the storm, they would 
still fail in procuring food; for, as in fishing, these birds 
always carry their heads under water, in order that, with 
their keen, clear, and beautiful eye, they may discover their 
prey at a greater distance, it is obvious that in such com- 
motions of the air and water, they would need even a quicker 
glance than they possess. The use they make of their bills 
in feeding shows remarkable ingenuity, as well as agility : if 
the fish happens to be a flat one, — a flounder, for instance, — 
they will turn it, so as to place it in the most commodious 
position for slipping down the throat ; if, on the contrary, it 
happens to be an eel, which has been seized in an unfavour- 
able position for gorging, they will throw it up, as a cook 
does a pancake, and catch it in the fall. 
Wild and desolate as are the habitations of these birds, 
and little as they seem to have in common with man, yet, 
judging from one which was caught young, and reared, they 
are not only docile, but grateful and affectionate. This bird,^ 
though it had fasted twenty-four hours, during its journey by 
coach to the place where it was sent as a present, refused 
every sort of food. It was therefore crammed with raw 
flesh, as no fish could be procured. It submitted patiently 
to this forced meat, and was left by the gentleman, who 
retired to his library after seeing it fed, but who was not a 
little surprised, in a few minutes, to see the bird walking boldly 
into the room, and, when before the fire, beginning to plume 
its feathers, as much at ease as if seated on its native rocks. 
It was removed to a menagerie, and supplied with water, into 
which it immediately plunged, and manifested much restless- 
ness, as if disappointed in not finding fish. After this it 
gradually became more docile, and fed upon whatever was 
offered ; and if let out, never attempted to ramble, but walk- 
ing direct to the house, would enter the first open door, with- 
See Montague’s Ornithol. Diet. 
