THE WHITE-CRESTED CORMORANT. 



845 



Our own cormorants are to be found chiefly upon the Olympiades (pro- 

 nounced Olyiiif^iah' dec;:), and in the coastal waters, where alone birds of this 

 white-crested species breed. A few colonies of Baird Cormorants exist on tiie 

 islands of the lower Sound, but the White-crest occurs only in the winter sea- 

 son, and then in hmited numbers, east of the entrance ti> the Straits of Juan 

 de Fuca. 



White-crests usually prepare their complement of eggs during tlie first 

 week in I\la}-, and therefore are the earliest nesters of the three local species. 

 Tlie nests are inwiriably Imilt of sticks, chiefly those culled fnmi the beach. 



Tliere is no proper lining, but \'arious soft substances, 

 like bark, moss, sea-weed, rags, and feathers, are 

 inciirporated in the structure, which is always placed 

 in an exposed situation, tlie crest of a sliarp ridge 

 or the top of a li.nie ri)ck. 



Unlike the Baird Cormorant, which is ner\ous 

 and flighty to a fault, the White-crest is a 

 plain, home-lo\ing bodw \er\- amiable if 

 treated with proper considera- 

 tion. Partly because of her 

 - more phlegmatic 



- .--^ f 1 disposition a n d 



Taken on CarroU Islet. 



A RIDGE COLOXV. 



Pholo by the Author. 



partly, no doubt, because most of the eggs have hatched by June (which is as 

 early a date as one cares to select in visiting this region of heavy rainfall ), it 

 is often possible to get very close to brooding birds of this species. The photo- 

 graph shown in the full-page plate was taken at ten feet, and I have declined 

 opportunities at four feet simply because the bird would not go on the plate. 

 In spite of the filtln- surroiuidings of her nest, the Shag is not uncleanly 

 in personal appearance, and her sleek shininess is doubtless due in large 

 measure to her frequent ablutions. The bird's eye is of a handsome blue- 

 green (rather an tuiusual color among birds), and its hue matches to a nicety 



