COOT AND CORMORANT 



27 



size ; the latter is thirteen inches in length, and the Coot eighteen 

 inches, but the chief characteristic is the white bald patch on 

 the forehead, which has earned for the bird the title of Bald- 

 Headed Coot. Underneath sooty black ; above, slate-grey with 

 a thin white bar across the wing; legs and feet dark green. 



CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo) 



Local Names. — Cole Goose, Corvorant, Crested Cormorant, Gormer, 

 Great Black Corvorant, Great Black and White Cormorant, 

 Great Corvorant, Green Cormorant, Isle of Wight Parson. 

 Xorie, Parson, Scart, Sea Crow, Skart. 



Haunt. — Sea cliffs and seashore, also large fresh-water lakes. 



Nesting Period. — April to June. 



Site of Nest. — Ledges of sea cliffs, tall trees or bushes when nesting 

 inland. A social species, and nests in 

 colonies. 



Materials Used. — Seaweed, sticks, and dry grass. 

 A large nest. 



Eggs. — JFour to Six. Whitish, this being caused 

 by a chalky incrustation distributed over 

 the whole shell. When this chalky surface 

 is removed the egg is bluish-green. 



Food. — Fish, including eels. 



Voice. — A harsh scream; call-note, " kree," 

 " kraw," or " krell." 



Chief Features. — An expert fisherman. The bird 

 will sit on a rock near the sea for hours 

 at a stretch. Fond of preening its 

 feathers and dozing. When a company 

 are seen parading on the summit of a rock 

 the effect is very curious. The young 

 birds are vociferous and hate being interfered with, 

 species on many parts of our coast. 



Plumage. — The upper head and neck are black, striated with hair- 

 like white feathers, those on the occiput being elongated, and 

 forming a crest in Spring; white throat; gular pouch yellow; 

 mantle black and bronze-brown ; all other parts are black with 

 the exception of a white patch on the thigh, which is assumed 

 early in the Springtime and lost during the Summer. The 

 female is brighter than her mate, has a longer crest, and is 

 larger. Length. — Three feet. 



Fig. 6. Cormorant. 



A common 



