214 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



species of Cormorant inhabiting the African continent has 

 been considered to be different from P. cardo, and it is difficult 

 to say what is the exact range of our Cormorant to the south- 

 ward. It occurs in Arctic America on the iVtlantic side, and 

 ranges in winter as for south as New Jersey, but has not been 

 recorded from the Pacific side of North America. 



Habits. — The Cormorant is in most parts of England a sea- 

 bird, frequently the rocky coasts and building its nest on the 

 rocks, but in many places it builds on trees, in company. In 

 other parts of its range it has been known to build its nest in 

 reed-beds, and in pollard willows, while sometimes a colony 

 of Cormorants will be found to occupy quite high trees, like 

 Herons. 



The food consists entirely of fish, of which the bird devours 

 a great number, and the decaying carcases are plentifully 

 strewn about the nesting-places, so that a visit to a Cormo- 

 rant's home is generally trying to the olfactory sense. The 

 mess which the birds make is also rather appalling, the 

 whole of the rocks on which they breed having generally 

 the appearance of having been whitewashed. On land the 

 Cormorant is rather a sluggish bird, and is generally seen 

 perched on a rock, where it will remain for hours digesting its 

 food ; but in the water it is a splendid swimmer and diver, 

 employing its great webbed feet to singular advantage, and 

 using its stiffened tail as a rudder to steer itself with, but 

 not making much use of its wings. Although generally nest- 

 ing in company, at other times of the year Cormorants are 

 found on inland rivers, and many are thus obtained during the 

 winter, most of these individuals being young birds, though 

 old ones not unfrequently occur. One which was shot near 

 Cookham, when I was a boy, was observed for several days 

 swimming in the Thames, with its body submerged and only 

 its head .nd neck protruding out of the water. 



Nest. — A very rough structure of seaweed or sticks, which is 

 added to year by year in places where the birds are allowed 

 to nest without interference. The Cormorant seems to have 

 some idea of decorating its nest, for Mr. Doncaster informed 

 Mr. Seebohm that he found one in which the birds had pulled 

 a long spike of foxglove and had twisted it round the nest as 



