THE SHAG 167 
to catch fish. While conveying the birds to the fishing-ground 
the fishermen keep the heads and eyes of the birds covered to pre- 
vent them from being alarmed. When they have reached the rivers, 
they take off the hoods, and having first tied a leather strap loosely 
round the lower part of the neck, that the birds may be unable to 
swallow down what fishes they catch, throw them into the water. 
They immediately set to work and pursue the fish beneath them 
with marvellous rapidity. When they have caught one they 
rise to the surface, and, having first pinched it with their beaks, 
swallow it as far as the strap permits, and renew the chase until they 
have caught from five to six each. On being called to return to 
their masters’ fist, they obey with alacrity, and bring up, one by 
one, the fish they have swallowed, injured no farther than that 
they are slightly crushed. The fishing being brought to an end, 
the birds are removed from the neighbourhood of the water, the 
strap is untied, and a few of the captured fish, thrown to them as 
their share of the booty, are dexterously caught before they touch 
the ground.’ 
THE SHAG 
PHALACROCORAX GRACULUS 
lail graduated, of twelve feathers. In winter, general plumage deep greenish 
black ; feathers of the back glossy with black borders ; orbits and pouch 
greenish yellow ; bill dusky ; irides green; feet black. In summer, head 
crested. Young birds greenish brown above ; light grey below. Length 
twenty-eight inches. Eggs greenish blue, chalky. 
EXcEPT in the smaller size and differences of plumage mentioned 
above, there is little to distinguish the Shag from the Cormorant. 
Both, too, are of common occurrence, and frequent the same 
localities ; except that the Shag is more disposed to be gregarious: it 
does not, however, commonly resort to tidal rivers, and is still more 
rarely found on inland lakes ;_ its food and method of obtaining it are 
precisely similar, so that a description of one bird will suit the other 
almost equally well. The Shag is called sometimes the Green 
Cormorant, from the tint of its plumage; but this name is not in 
common use. Another of its names is the Crested Cormorant ; 
but this is vague, inasmuch as both species are crested in spring. 
In Scotland a common name for it is Scart, applied also to the Great 
Cormorant. 
