25 



are very numerous in the Isle of Sheppey, South- 

 ampton Water, and various parts of Dorset and 

 Devonshire. Scotland is visited by them during 

 the summer months; and they are occasionally 

 found during the same period on the coasts of 

 Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and the Faroe Islands. 

 The Bald Coot indeed is generally diffused over 

 the whole Continent of Europe. In the autumn a 

 considerable number of these birds change their 

 stations, removing from ponds and small lakes, 

 where they have bred and reared their young, 

 and resorting to the larger lakes and sea coasts, 

 where there are large mud flats. It is usual for 

 them to form their nests on a tuft of rushes, or 

 amongst reeds surrounded by water. The nest 

 is composed of dry coarse herbage, well matted 

 together, the inside being lined with soft fine grass. 

 The female lays from ten to fourteen eggs, having 

 a brownish white ground, sprinkled with small 

 dark spots and blotches. 



CORMORANT, COMMON. 



CAEBO COBMOEANUS, Temm. 



These birds, which frequent all parts of the 

 world, are found in considerable numbers on our 

 coasts, assembling on the lofty summits and inac- 

 cessible points of the rocks, where the female 

 builds her nest. They are very voracious, and 



