235 

 NOTP]S ON THE BIRDS OF lONA. 



BY HENRY D. GRAHAM^ ESQ. 



( Concluded from page \&1.) 



Cormorants^ (Phalacrocorax.) 



"Thk Cornioriiiit/' or, as we commonly call it, the Scart, or Scarble, (for, 

 like much of the low country Scotch dialect, it is a corruption of the latter 

 or pure Gaelic word,) is abundantly distributed along our shores, and over 

 the surface of our seas — both the Great Black Cormorant, {Phalacrocorax 

 carbo,) and the Lesser Green-crested one, (Phalacrocorax cristatus,) though 

 the latter the more plentiful of the two. 



The caves of Staffa, and of the neighbouring islets, are exclusively peopled 

 by this kind; while beneath the stupendous cliffs of Burg and Gribun, on 

 the mainland of Mull, the Black Cormorant is found in great numbers nestling 

 and roosting among the wave-worn caverns. The habits of the two species 

 seem to be very similar, and I am not aware of any reason for their thus 

 selecting these separate localities. 



At a distance the Black Cormorant is easily distinguished by the marked 

 white patches underneath, which contrast very conspicuously with the rest of 

 its black plumage. The Green Cormorant, on the contrary, has no break in 

 the sombre tint of its sad-coloured livery, with the exception of the bright 

 yellow skin upon the face, which is, however, sufficient to betray the bird 

 when sitting — otherwise quite invisible — upon the high ledges in the twilight 

 obscurity of its cave. 



The crest is another distinction between the two races, though in itself 

 rather an uncertain criterion; for while the Black bird often has it partially 

 developed, the Qvdea-crested one is not always thus ornamented, even in birds 

 actually shot on the nest in the height of the breeding-season; though in winter 

 I have, on the other hand, once or twice got individuals with a magnificent 

 long queue. But in general it must be regarded as a nuptial ornament, and 

 a very graceful one, of the adult Green-crested Cormorant, when attired in 

 his rich and beautiful wedding garment of summer. 



The immature Black Scart takes more than one season to attain its full 

 bulk, and its plumage in the meantime is dull black above, and a greyish 

 brown mixture beneath; but the young green one is clad in an entire neat 

 suit of dark bottle green, from the very commencement of its career after 

 leaving the nest. Another distinction may be observed in •the eyes, for those 

 of the last-mentioned species are of a brilliant clear green, like lustrous emeralds, 

 while the irides of the other are simply grey or brown. 



Many people feel a sort of aversion to the Cormorant as a kind of 

 unclean bird. It certainly has an ugly name for greed and gluttony. Milton 



