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°36x 1°69 in. Laying begins usually in February. One, 
probably sometimes two broods. 
X. ORDER: CICONIIFORMES. (2) SUBORDER: 
STEGANOPODES 
(1) Family : Phalacrocoracidea—Cormorants 
177. Cormorant, great or black-cormorant [Phalacrocorax 
carbo carbo (Linneus)|. 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 of 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°52x155 in. Laying 
begins April-May. One, probably two broods. 
178. Shag, green-cormorant [Phalacrocorax graculus graculus 
(Linnzeus)]. Breeds on our rocky coasts, except §.E. and 
K. 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. 
