The Cormorant. 379 
THE CORMORANT, (Phalacrocorax carbo,) 
Is a large water-bird, nearly allied to the pelican, pos- 
sessed with a very voracious appetite, and consequently 
of a very rapacious disposition. It lives upon all sorts of 
fish ; the fresh water and the briny waves of the sea 
both paying a large contribution to its craving stomach. 
The bill is about five inches in length, and of a dusky 
colour ; the predominant tints of the body are black 
beneath, and dark brown above ; on each thigh there 
is a white patch. The smell of these birds when alive 
is excessively rank and disagreeable ; and their flesh is 
so disgusting that even the Greenlanders, among whom 
they are very common, will scarcely eat it. They were 
formerly tamed in England for the purpose of catching 
fish, as falcons and hawks were for chasing the fleet inha- 
bitants of the air. This custom is still in practice in 
China. The birds are taken to the water in a boat, with 
leather thongs tied round their necks to prevent their 
swallowing the fish ; at the word of command they de- 
scend into the water, swim about, and dive in pursuit of 
