364 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



regularly to roost at a cottage on the opposite 

 side of the stream. I often watched it preening 

 its feathers on a stump or bough of some tree 

 overhanging the water preparatory to its home- 

 ward flight. It was well known in the neighbour- 

 hood, and allowed to wander unmolested. Cap- 

 tain F. H. Salvin, of Whitmoor House, near 

 Guildford, employs several cormorants for catch- 

 ing fish, they being trained for the purpose. I 

 have before me a sketch of these birds, kindly 

 sent me by their owner, and taken from a picture 

 by Mr. Hook, as also another sketch representing 

 a day's fishing with them. This variety of cor- 

 morant is, when in full plumage, a peculiar-looking 

 bird ; the bill is long, powerful, and hooked at the 

 point ; the upper part of the head and the neck 

 black ; the back of the head and upper neck crested, 

 or rather maned, with long, untidy-looking white 

 feathers in spring ; the throat and cheeks white ; 

 the mantle brownish - black ; the under parts 

 blackish-purple ; a white patch is very apparent 

 on the thighs during the spring only ; the pouch 

 in the throat is yellow. 



The shag is readily distinguishable, not only 

 by its smaller size, measuring but twenty-seven 

 inches as compared with thirty- six, but also by 

 the shining black-green colour of its plumage, 

 and in spring by the peculiar crest which curves 

 forwards. Unlike the cormorant, it rarely wanders 

 inland. It is common on the Western British 

 coast, and also on a great portion of the coast 

 of Ireland. This bird is a most expert diver, 



