SHAG. 389 



SHAG. 



PHALACROCORAX GRACULUS. 



Family Peleconid^. Genus Phalacrocorax. 



Green Cormorant — Crested Shag. 



The Shag is also a common resident in the British 

 Isles, and is found where there are rocky cliffs, especi- 

 ally where caves abound. 



The Shag is much more of a sea bird than the 

 Cormorant and is never found inland like that bird, un- 

 less, perchance, driven inwards by boisterous weather. 

 Consequently it is never found nesting or perching 

 in trees, but is always observed near the coast when 

 on land. 



In its habits it differs little from the Cormorant. 

 It is an expert fisher, and a perfect diver, frequently 

 descending to a great depth —even as much as one 

 hundred and fifty feet in pursuit of its prey. This it 

 catches with wonderful celerity, fairly swimming its 

 fish down by superior pace, using its wings as though 

 in the air, and, it is said, forcing itself to the surface 

 again by means of its stiffly-formed tail. 



The Shag, whenever it can, breeds in caves and 

 hollows in the rocks ; in these, on ledges within, many 

 nests are placed, which are resorted to and repaired 

 from year to year ; if, however, no caves are to be 

 found, the Shag will place its nest on the ledge of 

 cliffs. In this case they are generally found singly. 



The nests are large and bulky, built of seaweed, 

 turf, and bits of heather, and rendered very disgusting 

 and offensive by the decayed fish and droppings lying 

 thickly in all directions around. The eggs are usually 

 three or four in number, and resemble the Cormorant's 



