25 
are very numerous in the Isle of Sheppey, South- 
ampton Water, and various parts of Dorset and 
Devonshire. Scotland is visited by them during 
the summer months; and they are occasionally 
found during the same period on the coasts of 
Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and the Faroe Islands. 
The Bald Coot indeed is generally diffused over 
the whole Continent of Europe. In the autumn a 
considerable number of these birds change their 
stations, removing from ponds and small lakes, 
where they have bred and reared their young, 
and resorting to the larger lakes and sea coasts, 
where there are large mud flats. It is usual for 
them to form their nests on a tuft of rushes, or 
amongst reeds surrounded by water. The nest 
is composed of dry coarse herbage, well matted 
together, the inside being lined with soft fine grass. 
The female lays from ten to fourteen eggs, having 
a brownish white ground, sprinkled with small 
dark spots and blotches. 
CORMORANT, COMMON. 
Carbo corMORANUS, ZLemm. 
These birds, which frequent all parts of the 
world, are found in considerable numbers on our 
coasts, assembling on the lofty summits and inac- 
cessible points of the rocks, where the female 
builds her nest. They are very voracious, and 
