36 BIRDS OF ICELAND 



Phalacrocorax graculus (Linn.). Shag. 



Native name : ' Topp-skarfur ' (Skart with a topknot). 

 Grondal adds the name 'Hnaukr' or 'Hnokr,' 

 meaning 'pinnacle/ which he thinks has been 

 given to this bird from its npright carriage 

 when perched ; but it might equally easily apply 

 to its habitual perching places. 



Eesident and common, breeding in similar places 

 to the last species, but chiefly on the southern and 

 western coasts. Like the last, also, it is a gregarious 

 breeder, but not to the same extent. Its nest is like 

 the Cormorant's, and smells quite as nasty, and the 

 eggs are only distinguishable, in the absence of the 

 birds, by their rather smaller size, and (usually) 

 smaller comparative diameter. 



The bird is smaller than the Cormorant, and has no 

 white patches on throat or flanks. Its colour is black 

 with a strong bottle-green sheen, and it has a crest on 

 the forehead, reflexed at its end, which is worn in the 

 spring only. Length 27 to 28 inches, wing lOf inches. 

 Young birds are of a sooty brown, but begin to show at 

 a very early age some indications of the green sheen 

 which has gained for this bird in England its common 

 name of Green Cormorant. 



There are only twelve tail-feathers in this species, 

 the Cormorant having fourteen. 



It may be borne in mind that Gmelin named 

 this bird Pdecanus cristatus. Several continental 



