CORMORANTS 89 



of the neck. Under-parts white, with elongated feathers hang- 

 ing from the base of the neck. The female resembles the male, 

 but is smaller. The young lack the crest and the pendant 

 breast feathers. 



Nest. Usually in trees, near the top; also on the ground or 

 low bushes, even in reed-beds. A large structure of sticks, 

 lined with twigs, grass, &c. The species usually nests in colonies. 



Eggs. Usually 4-5. Light blue-green without gloss. Av. 

 size, 2-36 x 1*69 in. Laying begins usually in February. One, 

 probably sometimes two broods. 



X. ORDER: CICONIIFORMES. (2) SUBORDER: 

 STEGANOPODES 



(1) Family : Plialacrocoracida Cormorants 



177. Cormorant, great or black-cormorant [Phalacrocorax 

 carbo carbo (Linnaeus)]. Resident on most of our rocky coasts. 

 Also breeds on inland waters. 



Bird. Length about 3 feet. Like the next two species it has 

 the four toes webbed ; and, like the shag, it has a straight, hooked 

 bill and comparatively short black legs set well back, but is 

 much larger in size (shag, 2 ft. 2 in.), and has bluish-black 

 under-parts, the shag being mostly greenish or greenish-black, 

 and fourteen tail-feathers, the smaller species having twelve. In 

 breeding dress it has a crest of scattered hair-like white plumes, a 

 continuous white band passing round the throat upward to the 

 back o each eye, and a white patch on the thigh. Shape as shag 

 (Fig. 104). The young are generally brownish, with more or less 

 white on the breast and belly, and a brown iris instead of green. 



Nest. On rocky islets or ledges of cliffs by the sea ; and when 

 inland usually on islands in lakes, in which case it may be 

 built in trees instead of on the ground. Material : sticks and 

 rough material with finer lining, grasses, feathers, &c., when in 

 trees ; sea-weed mostly when on rocks or ledges by the sea. 

 The species breeds in colonies. 



Eggs. Usually 3-5. Blue, mostly covered with a chalky 

 white deposit, soon stained. Av. size, 2-52 x 1'55 in. Laying 

 begins April-May. One, probably two broods. 



178. Shag, green-cormorant [Phalacrocorax graculus graculus 

 (Linnaeus)]. Breeds on our rocky coasts, except S.E. and 

 E. England to Northumberland. Scarce E. Scotland. Rare 

 inland. Local movements in winter. 



Bird. See preceding species. In breeding plumage both 

 sexes have a curved crest on the crown. Iris green. The 

 young may be distinguished from the young of the cormorant 

 by the twelve tail-feathers. 



