THE CORVORAxVT. 



39- 



nests on trees, if near: at other times they lay on the rocks; the 



eggs one or two, 

 are of a flenh 

 color, marked 

 with crimson 

 spots. The 

 young hinid 

 covered with a 

 g re y i sli- white 

 down, are asau.- 

 uously attended 

 by the {)iircnts 

 who are then 

 tame, and easily 

 a p j) ro a c h ed. 

 When alarmed, 

 like Gulls, they 

 as readily cast 

 up the contents 

 of tlieir pouch, 

 as those birds 

 do of the stom- 

 ach. '1 he gene- 

 ral plumage is 

 brown is! 1 - black, 

 with viokt re- 

 flections, except 

 the wing coverts 

 whith have a 

 rufous tinge. 

 THE CORVORAXT. 



These birds are common on many of our sea-coasts. They build 

 tneir nests on the highest parts of the cliffs, that hang over the sea ; 

 and lay three or more pale green eggs, about the size of those of a 

 Goose. In winter they disperse along the shores, and visit the fresh 

 waters, where they commit great depreilations among the fish. They 

 are remarkably voracious ; having a most rajiid digestion, promoted 

 perhaps, by an infinite number of small worms wliich fill their intes- 

 tines. They are veiy waty, except when they have filled their 

 stomach; but in this case they sometimes become so stupid, that it ia 

 easy to take them in a net, or even by means of a noose thrown ovei 

 their heads. 



"J'heir smell when alive, is excessively rank and disagreeable; and 

 their flesh is so disgusting, that even the Greeidanders, among wnom 

 they are very common, will scarcely eat them. 



It is no uncommon thing to see, on the rocks of the sea-coasi, 

 twenty of these binls together, with extended wings, drying them- 

 selves in the wind; in this [position they remain sometimes nearly an 

 hour, without once closing their wings, and, as soon as these are suf 



rRIGATE PEUCAN. 



