656 BRITISH BIRDS. 



PHALACROCORAX GRACULUS. 

 SHAG. 



(PLATE 34.) 



Phalaerocorax minor, Briss. Orn. vi. p. 516 (1760). 



Pelecanus graculus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 217 (1766) ; et auctorum plurimorum 

 Gmelin, Latham, ( Temmmck), {Dresser), (Sounders), &c. 



Procellaria graculus (Linn.),) n f -\nnn\ 



n t Mull. Zool. Dan. Prodr. p. 18 (1776). 

 Procellaria cnstatus, 



Pelecanus cristatus (Mull.), Faber, Faun. Grcenl. p, 90 (1780). 



Carbo graculus (Linn.), Meyer, Taschenb. ii. p. 578 (1810). 



Phalaerocorax graculus (Linn.), Leach, Syst. Cat. Mamm. fyc. Brit. Mus. p. 34 (1816). 



Hydrocorax cristatus (Mull.), Vieill. N. Diet, a" Hist. Nat. viii. p. 89 (1817). 



Carbo eristatus (Mull.), Temm. Man. tfOrn. ii. p. 900 (1820). 



Halieus graculus (Linn.), Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 86 (1823). 



Phalaerocorax cristatus (Mull.'), Steph. Shaw's Gen. Zool. xiii. pt. i. p. 83 (1825). 



Carbo desmaresti, Payraudeau, Ann. des Sci. Nat. 1826, p. 460. 



Graculus cristatus (Mull.), j 



Graculus linnreii, > Gray, Gen. B. iii. p. 667 (1845). 



Graculus desmarestii (Payr.), ) 



The Shag is a well-known and common resident in the British Islands, 

 frequenting in considerable numbers most rocky coasts where the cliffs 

 abound with caves and hollows, in which it loves to shelter and rear its 

 young. During winter it wanders far from home, but, being exclusively 

 maritime, it very rarely visits inland districts, unless accidentally driven 

 by gales. 



The Shag appears to be confined during the breeding-season to the rocky 

 coasts of Europe. It is a resident in Iceland and on the Faroes, on the 

 entire coast-line of Norway, the French, Spanish, and Portuguese coasts, 

 and throughout the basin of the Mediterranean, except on the low-lying 

 shores. In winter its range is slightly more extended, though it rarely 

 enters either the Baltic or Black Seas. The Shag has numerous allies in 

 various parts of the world, with none of which is it liable to be confused. 



Unlike the Cormorant, the Shag is almost exclusively a marine species, 

 and seldom wanders from the sea to inland fishing-grounds. It loves best 

 to frequent those parts of the coast that are rocky, especially if there be 

 small islands and plenty of caves and fissures amongst the cliffs, in which 

 it not only rears its young, but takes shelter. Sometimes it may be seen 

 sitting on the shelves of the cliffs, or more often basking on some sea-girt 



