GREEN CORMORANT, 397 



Advancing a little, we find that many still remain on the 

 rocks, and of these Ave shoot some more. Presently some of 

 those which had escaped return and perch ; and thus we con- 

 tinue shooting until we have obtained as many as we desire. 

 After all the uproar, several still remain standing near their 

 nests, so loth are they to quit them. Although most of the 

 nests are beyond reach, some are accessible. We find them 

 generally bulky, but sometimes very scanty, formed of fuci, 

 twigs, heath, and grass, rudely put together, nearly flat, or 

 with a shallow cavity, containing two, frequently three, some- 

 times four eggs, never more. The eggs are generally soiled 

 by the feet of the birds, like those of the Gannet and Grebes. 

 In some of the nests are young birds in various stages. At 

 first they are bare all over, and of a purplish-black colour. 

 Presently, however, they are covered with brownish-black 

 down, soft, but not close, and leaving the head, part of the 

 neck, and the abdomen bare. Then the feathers gradually 

 sprout, the birds rapidly increase in size, and in seven or eight 

 weeks are fledged. They are at first fed with half-digested 

 fish disgorged by their mother, and at length becoming very 

 plump, are esteemed delicate food by the Hebridians. I have 

 eaten a portion of one, but did not relish it, and the flesh of 

 the adult bird is much worse. 



To one of these caves is a narrow passage from the land. 

 I have often crept into it, and advancing stealthily, have seen 

 eight or ten Scarts below, at the distance of a few yards, 

 brooding over their eggs or young, or standing beside them. 

 On the arrival of their mother, the young open their bills 

 wide, stretching up their necks with a wriggling kind of 

 motion, and receive their food from her mouth. The nest, as 

 well as the rocks around, is covered with white dung, and a 

 disagreeable stench, as of putrid fish, emanates from them. 

 The Rock Pigeons frequently, and Starlings sometimes, roost 

 and nestle in these caves. On my shouting, these birds 

 instantly flew off"; but the Cormorants remained standing, in 

 a state of great anxiety, until I showed myself, when they 

 would take wing, leaving their young at my mercy. They 

 soon returned, however, and on my again hiding, forgot their 

 alarm. Many little things are neglected on such occasions. 



