128 British Birds. 



The Pelican-like Birds.-^O/vAv Pelecaniformes. 



These birds are also known as Ste!j;aiiopodi's, and are remarkable for having the 

 hind toe joined to the others by a web. The order includes the Pelicans, Cormorants, 

 Gannets, Frigate-Birds. and Tropic-Birds. A Wild Pelican is said to have been 

 shot at Horsey Fen m 1663, but is believed to have been an escaped bird. In 

 ancient times Pelicans certainly used to inhabit Kngland, as their remains have 

 been found in the fen-lands. 



These birds have a sharply hooked bill, and are further 



THE CORMORANTS. ... ■,,,,■,,,, r , • ,,• 



distinguished by their black plumage from their allies, the 

 Sub-oiil,r ^ ' -' 1 r- 



PHAI.ACKOCORACES. <jannets. 



The Common Cormor.\nt [Phalncrocoi-ax carlo). Al- 

 though, when seen in flight, and at a distance, the Cormorant appears to be perfectly 

 black, on closer e.xamination it will be found that there is a good deal of metallic 

 gloss on the bird's plumage, the general colour of the upper surface being glossy 

 blue-black, while the wings are bronz}'-brown, with black edges to the feathers. In 

 the breeding season appears a crest of glossy blue-black plumes, and a patch of 

 white on the sides of the lower flanks, while the head, neck, and lower throat are 

 covered with a dense mass of filamentous white plumes. These ornamental plumes 

 begin to make their appearance at the end of January, and are fulh- developed by 

 the end of February ; but they do not last long and are completely shed by the 

 middle of May, though the white flank-plumes are retained for some time longer. 

 It should lie noted that the Cormorant has fourteen tail-feathers which will al\va3's 

 serve to distinguish the young birds in their brown plumage from those of the Shag, 

 which has only twelve tail-feathers, and is a smaller bird. 



The Cormorant breeds on the rocky cliffs and islands in most parts of the coasts 

 of England, excepting on the east and south, where there are not so many places 

 suitable to the bird's habits, but in Scotland and Ireland it nests not only on the 

 rock}' coasts, but in some inland districts on trees. It is found nearly everywhere in 

 the Old World, and along the Atlantic Coast of North America. 



Though rather an awkward bird on land, the Cormorant is a splendid swimmer 

 and catches large quantities of fish : it has the power, when swimming, of 

 submerging its bod}-, so that often only the head and neck are seen above the 

 surface of the water. The nest is a roughly constructed conglomeration of old sticks 

 and sea-weed, often lined with green leaves of some sea-plant. The eggs are two 



