THE SHAG 167 



to catch fish. While conveying the birds to the fishing-ground 

 the fishermen keep the Iieads 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 



Tail 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. 



