126 THE BIRDS OF DORSET. 



SHAG. Plialacrocorax gracul'iis, (L.) 



Yarrelly iv. p. 151; Dresser, vi. p. 163; Seebohin, iii. p. 656; 

 Ibis List, p. 106; Graciiliis cristatus, Hurting, p. 75 ; Pele- 

 caniis cristatus, Pulteney's List, p. 21. 



Unlike the Cormorant, the Shag does not congre- 

 gate in colonies to breed, preferring to nest in the 

 holes and crevices of the sea-cliffs ; in other respects 

 its habits are similar. It is most abundant on the 

 south coast of Purbeck from Gadcliff to Lulworth, 

 and thence westward to Whitenore. Mr. Pike states 

 that although very uncommon inside the Poole 

 waters, it may be seen in some numbers between 

 Peveril and Ringshead ledges. Mr. Harting, who 

 took several nests and inspected others at Bat's Head, 

 Swyre Cliff, Durdle Pock, and South Cliff, found 

 the date of laying to vary considerably. He saw 

 young birds that could fly, others that could not, 

 eggs and empty nests, on the same day. He found 

 the usual number of eggs to be three ; and in cases 

 where the young were already hatched, three was 

 the number of young birds in the nest. He says the 

 mode in which the old bird feeds her young is rather 

 curious. Instead of putting her bill with food into 

 that of her young, as is usual with most birds, just 

 the reverse takes place ; the young bird inserts its 

 bill into that of its parent, and so takes out the 

 food.^ 



1 The Zoologist, 1S65, p. 9676, and 1879, PP- 214, 266, 302, 



