BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 39 



Materials. Sticks, twigs, and coarse grass or 

 seaweed, depending upon locality. It is a large, 

 high nest. 



Eggs. Three generally, but sometimes as many 

 as five or six. The real shell is a pale blue, but 

 this is usually hidden by a thick coating of chalk 

 which can easily be scraped off. Sometimes the 

 real shell shows through the casing of lime. Size 

 about 2.6 by 1.62 in. 



Time. April, May, June, July, and sometimes 

 even in August. 



Remarks. Resident. Note : the bird is re- 

 markably silent, but occasionally utters " a harsh 

 croak " according to Seebohm. Local and other 

 names : Crested Cormorant, Corvorant, Great 

 Black Cormorant, Cole Goose, Sea Crow, Scart 

 Brongie, None, Isle of Wight Parson. Sits closely 

 or lightly according to situation. 



CORMORANTS ON NESTS 



