THE SKELLIGS AND SEA-FOWL. 263 



is generally distributed round the Irish coast, breeds 

 on the cliffs and prominent headlands. It lays from 

 four to six eggs. The young birds have white 

 breasts, and have in consequence been supposed by 

 some old writers to belong to a distinct species. 

 When in the nest they may be heard whistling 

 loudly. No bird, not even the Gannet, destroys a 

 larger amount of fish, for the Cormorant is very 

 fond of rivers and inland lakes, where its prey is of 

 a more valuable kind than that taken at sea. I 

 have shot a Cormorant that could not fly, and taken 

 a trout out of its body nearly three pounds in weight, 

 which explained the cause of its inactivity. They 

 use their wings under water like the Diving Ducks, 

 and search every nook and corner for their unsus- 

 pecting food. 



In clear water, from a height, their motions may 

 be admirably seen, especially in a cave. After fish- 

 ing, they may be seen motionless, with hanging and 

 expanded wings, drying their plumage. 



THE GREEN CORMORANT (Graculus cristatus) 

 keeps much at sea, and nests on the headlands and 

 islands, the Skellig Rock included. It prefers the 

 mouth of a cave for this purpose, and in the nooks 

 and on the ledges forms a kind of rough nest, laying 

 from three to five eggs. The young birds are 

 brown in colour, growing darker till the third year. 

 An old cock has a very handsome crest and metallic 

 green jacket. 



THE GUILLEMOT (Uria troile] breeds in colonies 

 in vast numbers on the Large Skellig, and at many 

 spots round the coast. It is a striking sight to see 

 several hundreds of these birds ranged- in lines, their 



