Vol. XI 



MackAY, Habits of the Double-crested Cormorant. 1\ 



twenty-five in another, eighteen in another, and scattering flocks 

 of seven or eight each, down to a single bird (it is of course pos- 

 sible that T may have seen some birds more than once) ; and 

 although the greater portion flew near enough for me to see them 

 very plainly, I failed to detect any of the Common Cormorant 

 (P. carbo) mingled with them. They seemed to make little 

 disturbance of the air in flying with their slow measured move- 

 ment of the wings, and it can be truly said that they came and 

 went silently. While on the rocks observing them I failed to 

 hear them utter any sound whatever. Their movement towards 

 the rocks did not reach its height until quarter of 6 p. m. The 

 greater part of the birds came from a northeast direction, and 

 flew close to the water ; those coming from the west were always 

 flying higher up (ioo to 150 feet), probably coming from a 

 longer distance. 



As I have before said, the birds leave the rocks in the morn- 

 ing, about sunrise or a little before, to go in search of food, as 

 I have noticed those which passed West Island, flying towards 

 the east, did so at about that time. My Swedish boatmen 

 informed me that they had seen the Cormorants on the rocks 

 early in March, 1892. While I was watching, a Double-crested 

 Cormorant alighted in front of and near me on the rock. The 

 movement was so light and graceful as to cause me much sur- 

 prise, as I had heretofore regarded them as clumsy. This bird 

 alighted with the ease of a Robin on a twig, and stood erect 

 with legs straight and neck extended. On April 15, 1S92, the 

 first birds alighted on the rocks to roost at 6.02 p. m., and 

 I counted eighteen in sight on the rock through the large glass. 

 On April 16 the first bird alighted at 6.20 p. m., and one minute 

 later there were eight, a flock of seven having come on. On 

 this evening most of them seemed to come from the west, yet I 

 believe that they must have passed around the rock to that side, 

 flying so close to the water that I failed to perceive them as I 

 looked through the large glass, as I believe that most of the birds 

 must procure their living somewhere up the Seconnet River. 

 On April 17 there were seven birds in sight on the rocks at 

 6.24 p.m. On April 18, at 5.22 p. M., there were about thirty 

 in sight on the rocks, and at 6.15 p. m., there were forty or fifty. 

 The north rock (of small area) was first covered with them ; 



