Birds of Canada. 105 
in the fall, in flocks of twenty or thirty. Length, 
thirty-eight inches ; general color, white. Feeds 
upon fish, which it obtains by plunging from a 
height, often remaining under water for several 
minutes. The nest of the gannet is made of 
sea-weed and grasses, placed on the rocks near 
the sea coast. It lays but one egg, of a pale 
_ green color. 
FAMILY GRACULID. THE 
CORMORANTS. 
Graculus carbo-—TYhe Common Cormorant. 
This species breeds in Canada. They are 
quite common in the interior of the country. 
Nests, in the crevices of rocks; eggs, three, of 
a bluish-green color. Among the whole of the 
web-footed birds which prey on fish, there are 
none so voracious as Cormorants. They are 
most excellent divers, and pursue their prey 
with astonishing facility beneath the surface of 
the water, but upon land they are extremely 
awkward in their movements, owing to their legs 
being placed so far backwards: they, however, 
fly with rapidity ; and the tail being rather long, 
and furnished with strong feathers, it helps to 
support the body while walking. As soon as 
winter approaches, they are seen dispersed along 
the sea shores, entering the mouths of fresh-water 
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