The sea-side book; being an introduction to the natural history of the British coasts / By W.H. Harvey.

  • William H. Harvey
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The sea-side book; being an introduction to the natural history of the British coasts / By W.H. Harvey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    238/272 (page 226)
    began to look for fish. They have a beautiful sea-green eye, and, quick as lightning, they see and dive upon the finny tribe, which, once caught in the sharp-notched bill of the bird, never, by any possibility, can escape. The Cormorant now rises to the surface, with the fish in his bill, and the moment he is seen by the Chinaman he is called back to the boat. As docile as a dog, he swims after his master, and allows himself to be pulled into the san-pan, where he disgorges his prey, and again resumes his labours. And, what is more wonderful still, if one of the Cormorants gets hold of a fish of large size, so large that he would have some difficulty in taking it to the boat, some of the others, seeing his dilemma, hasten to his assistance, and with their efforts united capture the animal, and haul him off' to the boat. Sometimes a bird seemed to get lazy or playful, and swam about without attending to his business j and then the Chinaman, with a long bamboo, which he also used for propelling the boat, struck the water near where the bird was, calling out to him in an angry tone. Immediately, like the truant schoolboy, who neglects his lessons and is found out, the Cormorant gives up his play, and resumes his labours. A small string is put round the neck of the bird, to prevent him from swallowing the fish which he catches.” * The Shag (Fh, gracuhis) is very similar in aspect and habits to the Common Cormorant, but is of smaller size, and is at once distinguished by its uniform dark-green colour. The Gannet (^Sula alba) is more robust than either of the Cormorants, with a shorter and thicker neck, a large head, and a broadly conical. * Fortune’s China, pp. 99, ] 00.