PHALACROCORAX CARBO. 459 
PHALACROCORAX CARBO (Linnzus). 
THE CORMORANT. 
§ 5192. Zwo.—Speeton Cliff, Yorkshire. Not later than 1843. 
These from the Buckton rocks, where the Cormorants occupy one 
side of the cliff, and the Shags the other, according to Mr. Williamson. 
They were sold to me as Cormorants’ by Wilson, of Bridlington ; 
but I do not feel sure about it. Cormorants look like black Geese 
as they fly. 
[These eggs are inscribed “ Speeton.”} 
§ 5193. Zwo.—Handa, Sutherland, 9 June, 1849. ‘ Cormorant 
seen on nest. J. W.” 
Of the Cormorants I took one nest in Handa. Foolishly I fired 
at the bird with ball and broke three of the five eggs. These were 
fresh, but many of those about were even hatched. The nests 
were quite white-washed with dung. It was a very awkward place 
to get down to, perpendicular and perhaps fifty yards from the top. 
I climbed almost entirely, and this made the feeling of insecurity 
greater even than necessary. Shags were breeding near or among 
the Cormorants [ef. § 5214]. 
§ 5194. Zwo.—Orkney, 1851. From Mr. George Harvey. 
Cormorant and Shag. ‘Twenty-four specimens, several having been 
thrown away as broken. There are in Mr. Harvey’s list fifteen of 
one and fourteen of the other. I do not think it possible to separate 
all these with certainty. The spots upon them I imagine to proceed 
from the lice with which the old birds are frequented ; as I was told 
at the Bass Rock that they recognize fresh eggs of the Gannet by the 
absence of such specks. 
[Wholly agreeing with Mr. Wolley as to the impossibility of always 
separating the eggs of our two species of Phalacrocoraxr by their appearance, I 
have only selected two of the largest as representing P. carbo and two of the 
smallest as representing P. graculus (§ 5215). Mr. Wolley’s later experience 
in 1855 in East Finmark entirely justified his former hesitation. | 
