THE BRANDT CORMORANT. 851 
tories of the San Juans; but these companies appear to consist solely of im- 
mature and non-breeding birds. The nesting birds are found in small col- 
onies, each consisting of about thirty pairs, upon the Olympiades, notably 
upon the Grenville Arch Rock, Jagged Islet, and Paahwoke-it. The birds are 
late nesters, and their progress is constantly hindered by nest-robbery on the 
part of the Western Gull and the Northern Raven. So close a watch do their 
enemies keep, that a Cormorant dares not leave its eggs for an instant unless 
its mate is by to take its place. This species nests only on top of the islands, 
and then in the more level places. Characteristically the nest is a huge bowl, 
or crater, of dried eel-grass and sea-weed, accumulated thru several seasons, 
cemented firmly by the excrement of succeeding years, and freshly lined in its 
deep hollow with fine green grass. The eggs are elongated like those of 
Baird’s, but are uniformly, almost diagnostically, larger. Fresh eggs are of a 
delicate blue, with irregular deposits of rough white calcareous matter upon 
the surface. Eggs long exposed become a deep green, as tho having absorbed 
the color of the underlying grass, while the white overlay absorbs filth until 
it becomes nearly black. 
Four eggs appear to constitute the set, as in the case of all our Washing- 
ton Cormorants. Five are elsewhere reported, but in an experience of several 
seasons I have never seen more than four in one nest. Wherever the num- 
ber falls short of this, there is reason to suspect the visit of Crow or Raven. 
The Indians used to be very fond of Shags’ eggs, which are really very 
good eating, and they sacked the nesting rocks once or twice each season; but 
it has been found necessary to put a stop to this practice upon the Olympiades. 
