10 
GREEX COR MO "RANT. 
mouth of the Yealm, April 2nd., 1852. It is not an 
uncommon species in those parts. Building-places exist in 
the Isle of Man, and at St. Bees’ Head. 
In Scotland the Green Cormorant breeds in many places 
along the coast of Kircudbright and Sutherland, "VVhiten- 
Head, Handa, and others; the Bass Bock and the Isle of 
May. So also in Orkney are they common; as likewise in 
Ireland. 
This kind keeps exclusively to the sea. 
On the ground these birds walk but indifferently. They 
sit in an upright posture, resting partly on the tail, but 
sometimes, Meyer says, lay down flat. They seem fond of 
spreading and flapping their wings, as if to dry them, when 
perched, as they often continue to be for a considerable 
time, on a low rock or sand-bank. They swim and dive in 
the most perfect manner. The head, or rather the neck, is 
carried very erect, and the body sunk low in the water. 
They do not remain swimming for a long time together, 
but either fly about or repair to the rocks or the land for 
a change. 
These birds return home regularly about sundown, from 
their feeding places, flying in a straight line, and low over 
the water, if the weather be fine, but at a good height if 
it be rough or lowering. 
The old and young birds appear to keep in separate ^flocks 
or companies. 
They feed on fish, and dive after them to a depth of from 
one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet. 
These Cormorants make their nests on the ledges and shelves 
of cliffs or caves over the sea, lower down than the other 
species. Many pairs, a score or more, frequent the same 
place. They return to it annually for the breeding-season. 
Montagu mentions his having counted thirty together on a 
small rock. The bird sits upright on the eggs. 
The nest is a mass of sea-weed, softened off internally with 
the finer sorts of grass. 
The eggs are three, four, or five in number, and their 
original colour is white; but they soon become stained and 
discoloured. 
Male; weight, about four pounds; length, two feet four or 
five inches. Bill, at the base of the under mandible, yellowish 
green, the remainder dusky black; iris, green. There is a 
rich dark green crest on the head in the spring, which is 
