3o8 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



much has been written, so we will say nothing about 

 this long-billed fowl, except that on the eastern lines 

 of coast, and elsewhere as well, it can at times be 

 seen following the shoals, and plunging with others, 

 both old and young, of its family — or, to be strictly 

 correct, families — with the regularity of clockwork. 



So much is the Gannet a wanderer, that, like the 

 Albatross, in the breeding season excepted, it is 

 continually on the wing. This bird plunges when 

 flying, and not from the face of the water. 



THE COMMON CORMORANT 



{Fhalacrocorax carbo.) 



Male. — The bill dusky on the ridge, greyish- 

 brown on the sides, the base yellowish-white, tips 

 brown ; iris bright ; a bare space round it greenish- 

 brown ; bright yellow below ; also yellow pouch or 

 gular sac. A broad band of white crosses the 

 throat from one eye to the other. The head, 

 neck, lower parts, a band down the back, middle 

 and hind-parts are black, glossed with bluish- 

 green. The feathers on the fore-part, and sides of 

 back, scapulars, wing coverts, and secondary quills 

 are greyish-brown edged with greenish-black, having 

 green and bronze reflections. The primary quills 

 and tail are greyish-black ; a patch of white over 

 each thio^h accordinof to season. The head and 

 neck are finely streaked with white ; the legs and 

 feet greyish-black. Length, from bill to end of tail, 

 thirty-eight inches. 



