480 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



The Cormorant, Phalacrocorax, or Bald Raven of the 

 Greeks, like the Pelican, to which it is nearly related, is also 

 a general inhabitant of nearly every maritime part of the 

 world, and even extends its residence into the inclement 

 regions of Greenland, where by following the openings of 

 the great icy barriers of that dreary region they find means 

 to subsist and to fish throughout the year. To the natives 

 of this frigid climate they also prove of singular service, 

 their tough skin is used by them as garments, the pouch is 

 employed as a bladder to float their fishing tackle, and the 

 flesh though coarse is still acceptable to those who can 

 regale upon seals, and whale's blubber. 



This uncouth and gluttonous bird is plentiful on the rocky 

 shores of Great Britain, Holland, France and Germany. 

 On the shores of the Caspian they are sometimes seen in 

 vast flocks, and are frequent on lake Baikal. They inhabit 

 China, the coast of the Cape of Good Hope, and are com- 

 mon in the Phillippine islands. New Holland, New Zealand, 

 and other neighboring regions. At Nootka Sound, and in 

 Kamtschatka they have been observed by various navigators ; 

 and are found in North America, from Hudson's Bay and 

 Labrador, to the coasts of Carolina and Georgia^ They 

 are not however common in the central parts of the United 

 States, though they penetrate into the interior as far as the 

 Missouri river.* They breed, and are seen in the vicinity 

 of Boston on bare and rocky islands, nearly throughout the 

 year, and in all places appear shy, retiring and sedentary, 

 enduring the most severe weather with impunity, and only 

 removing seawards or south in the depth of winter for the 

 purpose of acquiring food. Mr. Audubon found them breed- 

 ing on the ledges of almost inaccessible rocks at Grand 

 Manan isle, in the Bay of Fundy. Their eggs are 3 to 5, 



* Mr. ?ay. 



