GEEEN CORMORANT. 399 



This species is much more numerous in Scotland than in 

 England, and in the northern than in the southern parts of 

 the former. The following account of its habits in the Shet- 

 land Islands has been sent to me by Dr. Edmondston : — 

 " Pelecanus Graculus is remarkably numerous in this 

 country. It is not migratory here more than I believe it is 

 anywhere else. Although of great power on wing, and one 

 of the most expert divers, it is never seen but near the coast, 

 so much so that seamen acquainted with the fact, in approach- 

 ing this coast, in thick Aveather, regard the appearance of 

 Shags as an infallible indication of the land being very near. 

 Their food consists chiefly of young coal-fish, among which 

 they commit great havoc. Their time of fishing is chiefly at 

 ebb. Their constant mode of diving is by a spring out of the 

 water. Neither this species nor the Carbo use their wings 

 under the water in the manner of the Guillemots and Ducks 

 for instance, but throwing their powerful webbed feet together 

 as a seal does his hind paws, they use them as a fish does its 

 tail, and dart forward with great velocity. This species is 

 subject to epidemics, which occasionally greatly reduce its 

 numbers. It is neither so easily tamed nor so sagacious as 

 the Cormorant. Both must be fed on fresh fish alone, reject- 

 ing even when hungry every other ; and under any circum- 

 stances they will not thrive without it. Their tenacious- 

 ness of life is not so great as that of most other diving birds. 

 The male is the largest, and his plumage is of a more glossy 

 black. In summer he rests on a ledge of rock near the nest, 

 but does not seem to have any share in incubation or in feed- 

 ing the young. The female is a perfect pattern of maternal 

 affection, and will often expose herself to several gun-shots 

 rather than desert her charge. The eggs and young are 

 from three to five, generally fovir. The young birds are good 

 eating. The eggs deserve all the execration which Pen- 

 nant says even the Esquimaux bestow on them. I hardly 

 ever have seen it in fresh water. This bird in its perfect state 

 of plumage is, I believe, what has more recently been termed 

 Pelecanus cristatus. I can perceive no just reason for making 

 it another species. The Shag is more gregarious than the 

 Cormorant." 



