THE SHAG 345 



ever, and at last we are left alone in their gloomy haunt to 

 examine their nests at will. The white droppings show out 

 conspicuously enough in the gloom, and mark the situations 

 of the nests, which are as a rule on the ledges and in the 

 crevices, far above the reach of the highest tides. Every 

 available place appears to be tenanted, and some of the nests 

 are quite inaccessible, so deeply are they placed down in the 

 crannies of the rocks. The nests are made of sticks, grass, 

 and weeds of various kinds, rudely but strongly put 

 together, and thickly coated with droppings, and slime 

 from decaying fish. In form they are flat and shallow, 

 and the cavity which contains the eggs is small in com- 

 parison with the rest of the structure. From the appearance 

 of many of these nests, they have been in use for years, and 

 appear to have been increased and strengthened every season. 

 The eggs of the Shag rarely exceed three in number, sometimes 

 only two, and in rare cases I have known but one. They are 

 also sat upon as soon as laid, and many of the nests contain 

 young birds and eggs partly incubated. The eggs are very 

 elongated, delicate green when newly laid, and covered with 

 a thick coating of chalk, which is easily scraped off with a 

 pen-knife. They soon become very much discoloured from 

 contact with the dirty nest and wet feet and plumage of the 

 sitting-bird so much so in some cases as to hide all trace 

 of their original colour. They vary considerably in size and 

 shape, and cannot with certainty be distinguished from those 

 of the Cormorant, unless thoroughly identified at the nest. 

 Young Shags and Cormorants are indeed weird-looking objects, 

 being covered with black down. They are born blind, and 

 remain in the nest until they are fully fledged. 



As I have previously stated, the cave in which the Shag 

 rears its young generally serves it for a roosting-place and a 

 retreat from the storm. It is at all times a sociable bird, and 

 in autumn and winter, after the young are safely reared, 



