658 BRITISH BIRDS. 



not easily found, or where the Shag is especially numerous, that it becomes 

 gregarious. 



The Shags begin to take an interest in their old nests in April, and 

 the eggs are laid early in May. Birds that have to build a nest begin 

 operations toAvards the close of April, and fresh eggs may be found during 

 May and the first half of June. The Shag always prefers a cave, if it can 

 obtain one, for nesting-purposes. Numbers of birds breed close together, 

 every possible place being occupied in some of the caves where it makes its 

 nest. In some districts where suitable caves are not to be found, the 

 Shags build their nests on the ledges of the clifls, generally where they 

 overhang considerably. Sometimes the nest is built on a ledge in the cave 

 far from the opening, but less frequently it is made at the entrance, the 

 cliff below it being white with the droppings of the bird, and making it a 

 very conspicuous object. The nests are bulky structui'es, made principally 

 of seaweed, masses of turf, sprays of heather, and perhaps a few straws 

 and bits of dead grass. The whole structure is matted closely together by 

 the incessant pattering of the bird's wet feet and the remains of decaying 

 fish. It smells most offensively ; and by the time that the young are able 

 to leave it is little more than a foetid mass of decayed fish and rotten 

 vegetation. As the rocks are approached in a boat, the old Shags may 

 be seen anxiously watching the intruders, swaying from side to side, as 

 if hesitating whether to plunge into the water or await the result of the 

 intrusion. One by one the sitting birds dart off their nests, some flying 

 rapidly overhead far out to sea, others diving into the water below to 

 make their escape by that means. Out of the dark cavern the big un- 

 wieldy birds come fluttering, one after the other, all making for the sea. 

 The Shag often sits very closely, the deafening roar of a gun in the cave 

 not being sufficient to frighten it from its charge. 



The following notes on the Shag have been furnished me by my friend 

 the late Mr. Charles Doncaster : — 



" Coasting this morning (June 12th) round the cliffs of Hoy, I came upon 

 a little bay, close to the Cam of Hoy, and realized, as I had never done 

 before, the countless number of sea-birds that were breeding here. There 

 were hundreds, I believe thousands, of Kittiwakes' nests. In many places 

 I counted twelve or more nests touching each other on one ledge. The 

 lower ones seemed within reach of an oar, but the height is very decep- 

 tive : I landed and found they Avere nearly 30 feet above me. There were 

 also immense numbers of Shags in every stage of plumage. I saw one 

 upon its nest which looked almost accessible, and, with stockings only 

 on my feet, managed to reach it. The bird, Avhen she saw me, made most 

 amusing menaces ; she seemed to be trying to throw her head off at me, 

 and erected the little bit of a crest which she had remaining from the full 

 spring plumage. The nest, when I reached it, was much like a Cormorant's 



