300 THE ANIMALS OP NEW ZEALAND 



near the surface, disappearing under the waves, and coming up 

 again at some little distance with its prey in its mouth. It is 

 remarkable that it should not occur at the Chatham Islands. 



Cormorants. 



Genus Phalacrocorax. 



Bill straight, rather slender, hooked at the tip; the nostrils 

 rudimentary. Wings moderate, pointed, the second and third 

 quills longest. Tail rounded or wedge-shaped. Claw of the 

 middle toe pectinate. The whole world, except Polynesia. 



New Zealand waters contain more different kinds of 

 cormorants, commonly called shags, than the waters of any other 

 part of the world. While we have fifteen species, there are only 

 twelve in North and South America, seven in Asia, six in Africa, 

 five in Australia, and three in Europe. The large number of 

 species in New Zealand is attributed to two causes. First, this 

 country was the meeting-place of two migratory streams, one 

 from the Malay Archipelago and New Caledonia, the other from 

 Patagonia. Secondly, New Zealand has been broken up into a 

 number of islands, lying at considerable distances apart, and these 

 have been isolated for a very long time. 



Cormorants are found all over the Avorld, except in Polynesia, 

 east of New Guinea, the Louisiade Archipelago, and New 

 Caledonia. This is surprising, as fish, on which these birds feed, 

 are very alnuidant round the Polynesian Islands. Another 

 remarkable fact is that all cormorants from all parts of the world 

 are considered to belong to one genus, namely, Phalacrocorax, 

 which, however, can be divided into several sub-genera. ]\Iost 

 cormorants live amongst rocks on the sea-shore, but some prefer 

 rivers, and live far inland, and these generally build their nests 

 in trees, considerable numbers consorting together. 



They are greedy birds, and display remarkable dexterity and 

 boldness in pursuing and seizing fish. Sir Julius von Haast, 

 writing of the pied shag, gives a good illustration of the diving 



