NATATORES. 441 



under the throat is small, by no means comparing in size with 

 that of the Pelicans proper; the nostrils are obliterated, but in 

 youth open, (Aud. ;) the wings of moderate size and broad ; the 

 tail of moderate length, very narrow and much rounded, having 

 twelve or more strong shafted feathers. These birds differ from 

 others of the family in being excellent divers. Their plumage 

 is soft and generally blended, compact on the back and wings ; 

 usually of dark, but often rich colors, varying with age and the 

 season of the year. They are capable of domestication and are 

 trained to catch and bring in fish. The Chinese who use them 

 for this purpose, put a ring around the neck as a hindrance to 

 their devouring the fish. To increase the power of swallowing, 

 it should be noted that the Cormorant has an additional bone pe 

 culiar to itself, on the back part of the head, called the xyphoid 

 (sword-like) bone, which, moving with facility in each direc 

 tion, by the action of the muscles attached to it, enlarges the 

 opening of the gullet for the more easy passage of any unusu 

 ally large fish. 



The COMMON CORMORANT, P. carlo, (Lat. charcoal,) is spread 

 over a considerable portion of Europe, especially the north. It 

 is a common bird in England; in this country ranges in the win 

 ter and is plentiful as far south as New York ; breeds in New 

 foundland, Labrador and Baffin s Bay. It swims very low in 

 the water ; even in the sea its body is deeply immersed, so that 

 little more than the head and neck can be seen above the sur 

 face ; and most expertly does it dive after its fishy prey. It 

 perches on trees, where it is occasionally known to build its nest, 

 but it mostly selects rocky shores and islands, preferring, accord 

 ing to Selby, the summits, and not, like the Green Cormorant, 

 the clefts or ledges. The nest is said to be composed entirely of 

 a mass of sea-weed, frequently heaped up to the height of two 

 feet, in which are deposited from three to five eggs, of a pale 

 bluish-white, with a rough surface. Ravens and Peregrine 

 Falcons have been observed to have nests on the same rocks 

 with those of the Cormorant, and in some instances, close to them. 

 This bird is sometimes three feet and four inches in length. 



The GREEN CORMORANT or SHAG, P. cristatus, (Lat. crested,) 

 does not perch on trees like the others. As illustrating the depth 

 to which this bird dives, Mr. Yarrell says : &quot; The Shag has been 

 caught in a crab-pot fixed at twenty fathoms, or a hundred feet 

 from the surface.&quot; The specific name is given to it from the 

 crest or tuft of wide outspread feathers which appears in the 

 spring on the back part of the head, and is capable of erection. 

 The Shag is without the white feathers on the neck and thighs 



