3^6 BRITISH BIRDS, 
trained to fifli, and that fome fifhermen keep many 
of them for that purpofe, by which they gain a 
livelihood. A ring placed round the neck hin- 
ders the bird from fwallowing ; its natural appetite 
joins with the will of its mafter, and it inftantly 
dives at the word of command ; when unable to 
gorge down the fifh it has taken, it returns to the 
keeper, who fecures it to himfelf. Sometimes, if 
the fifh be too big for one to manage, two will afl: 
in concert, one taking it by the head and the other 
by the tail.” * In England, according to Willough- 
by,! they were hood- winked in the manner of the 
* Latham. 
f When they come to the rivers, they take off their hoods, 
and having tied a leather thong round the lower part of their 
necks, that they may not fwallow down the fifh they catch, they 
throw them into the river. They prefently dive under water, 
and there for a time, with wonderful Iwiftnefs, they purfue 
the fifh, and when they have caught them, they arife prefently 
to the top of the water j and pr effing the fifh lightly with their 
bills, they fwallow them, till each bird hath in this manner fwal- 
lowed five or fix fifhes ; then their keepers call them to the fill, 
to which they readily fly, and, little by little, one after another, 
vomit up all their fifh, a little bruifed with the nip they gave 
them with their bills. When they have done fifhing, fetting the 
birds on fome high place, they loofe the firing from their necks, 
leaving the paflage to the fiomach free and open, and for their 
reward they throw them part of the prey they have caught, to 
each, perchance, one or two fifhes, which they by the way, as 
they are falling in the air, will catch mofi dexteroufly in their 
mouths.*’ — Wilhughly* 
