36 Baby Birds at Home 



raised and wings stretched out in full en- 

 joyment of a rest in the sunshine. 



Tall tree tops, ledges on cliffs, or low rocky 

 islands, will suit the Cormorant equally well 

 for breeding purposes. 



The nest is a bulky structure, made of 

 sticks and seaweed, and lined with coarse 

 grass. It does not matter much, however, 

 whether it is a child's whip, or the skeleton 

 of a seagull, this bird will utilise it as 

 building material. 



Three eggs are generally laid, but as 

 many as five or six may be found in a clutch. 

 They are small for the size of the bird, and 

 pale blue in colour. The real shell is usually 

 hidden by a thick coating of chalk, which can 

 be scraped off quite easily with a pocket- 

 knife. 



Young Cormorants are hatched absolutely 

 naked, and as their shiny skins are bluish- 

 black, they look rather ugly. In a few days, 

 however, they grow a coat of dusky black 

 down, and when old enough to swim and 

 dive are said to be carried on the backs of 

 their parents down to the sea. They are 

 exceedingly nervous, and appear to be panic- 

 stricken, if you handle them in the nest. 



