198 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



Observations. — The Black Cormorant is, perhaps, tlie most 

 plentiful of its genus, not only being Icuncl in numbers off the 

 coast, at the mouths of rivers emptying into the sea, bays, and 

 islets, but also about inland rivers and lakes. It is the hetc noir 

 of fishermen, though hardly more so than the other species. 



Much discussion has ensued at various times, especially 

 recently, as to whether the Cormorant, treating all species as one, 

 is as black as it is i^ainted. The conclusion one arrives at, after 

 reading all the correspondence, is that in inland waters the Cor- 

 morant may be voted a pest; while, as to the coast, man in his 

 wisdom has decided that but little damage is done. I have no 

 intention of entering into a discussion on the subject, but would 

 like to call attention to the fact that the Cormorant is not the 

 only enemy against which imported trout have to contend. It is 

 a well-known fact that eels are ver^' destructive to ova and 

 young fry ; then there are the large trout, who develop decided 

 cannibalistic tendencies and wreak great havoc among the young 

 of their own kind. A writer in Tlie Ediu has asserted that it is 

 only the weak and deformed fish that fall victims to the Cormorant. 



The following word picture of the Black Shag is from 

 tlie pen of the late Sir W. Buller : — "It walks with awk- 

 ward, waddling gait, supporting itself in part witli its 

 tail, which is moved alternately to the riglil and left 

 at every step. It has a very foetid odour; and a person 

 approaching a Hock of these birds on [he leeward side is made 

 sensible of this at a hundred yards or more. Its usual attitude 

 on the beach is one of repose, with the body mclined forward, 

 the tail resting full length on the ground, and the head drawn in 

 upon the shoulders. When disturbed it instantly stretches up its 

 neck, listens and watches attentively for a second or two. and 

 then, after a few ungainly steps, shoots its white ordure along 

 the sands, then rises into the air with laboured flapping of its 

 wings, and flies off in the direction of the sea, into which it speedily 

 plunges." 



LITTLE BLACK COEMOEAXT 



(Plialacrocorax sidcirostris, Brandt). 



Mole and Female (breeding plumage). — All the upper and 

 under surface save the upper back, wing coverts, and shoulders, 

 which are ash-coloured margined with black, are brownish-black, 

 glossed with dull brown ; on the sides of the head and scattered 

 about the neck are a few narrow white feathers: behind the ears 

 is a rather long tuft of white feathers; bill lead colour, with a 

 line of black down the centre; legs and feet black. Dimensions 

 in mm. : — Length, 640; bill, 42; wing, 255; tail, 123; tarsus, 41. 



Male and Female {non-hreeding plumage). — Similar to the 

 above, but without the white plumage on head and neck. 



