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DIVERS, GREBES, AND CORMORANTS. 173 
thologists, may not be seen; whilst even in summer 
it is sufficiently widely dispersed to merit us 
classing it as common. It is, however, seldom 
seen off low-lying coasts, save after the breeding 
season, or except such individuals as have not 
yet reached maturity. There is but one other 
British species with which the Cormorant may 
be confused, and that is the Shag; but even then 
the difference in size is sufhciently great for the 
much larger Cormorant to be readily identified. 
Very black, very heavy, and very clumsy the 
Cormorant looks, as he rises in slow cumbersome 
flight from the sea, or unfolds his big, bronzed- 
green wings, and flutters into the air from a rock 
shelf, or sea-girdled pinnacle; but very soon one’s 
opinion of him undergoes a change, as, when once 
fairly on his way, he passes swiftly enough over 
the sea to a distant resting place, or after flying 
some distance, pitches down into the water. The 
colours of the Cormorant are not seen to best 
advantage at a distance. Certainly the prevailing 
colour is black, but this is richly loricated with 
green and purple tints, whilst most of the upper 
plumage of the body is a beautiful bronzy-brown, 
the feathers being margined with soft velvety-black, 
shot with green ; the throat is white, as are also the 
sides of the head; whilst the bright yellow gape 
and bare portions of the throat form a pleasing 
contrast to the more sombre hues. As the breeding 
season approaches the Cormorant increases in 
