10 GREEN CORMORANT. 



mouth of the Yealm, April 2nd., 1852. It is not an. 

 uncommon species in those parts. Building-places exist in 

 the Isle of Man, and at St. Bees' Head. 



In Scotland the Green Cormorant breeds in many, places 

 along the coast of Kircudbright and Sutherland, Whiten- 

 Head, Handa, and others; the Bass Eock and the Isle of 

 May. So also in Orkney are they common; as likewise in 

 Ireland. 



This kind keeps exclusively to the sea. 



On the ground these birds walk but indifferently. They 

 sit in an upright posture, resting partly on the tail, but 

 sometimes, Meyer says, lay down flat. They seem fond of 

 spreading and napping their wings, as if to dry them, when 

 perched, as 'they often continue to be for a considerable 

 time, on a low rock or sand-bank. They swim and dive in 

 the most perfect manner. The head, or rather the neck, is 

 carried very erect, and the body sunk low in the water. 

 They do not remain swimming for a long time together, 

 but either fly about or repair to the rocks or the land for 

 a change. 



These birds return home regularly about sundown, from 

 their feeding places, flying in a straight line, and low over 

 the water, if the weather be fine, but at a good height if 

 it be rough or lowering. 



The old and young birds appear to keep in separate flocks 

 or companies. 



They feed on fish, and dive .after them to a depth of from 

 one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet. 



These Cormorants make their nests on the ledges and shelves 

 of -cliffs or caves over the sea, lower down than the other 

 species. Many pairs, a score or more, frequent the same 

 place. They return to it annually for the breeding-season. 

 Montagu mentions his having counted thirty together on a 

 small rock. The bird sits upright on the eggs. 



The nest is a mass of sea-weed, softened ofl' internally with 

 the finer sorts of grass. 



The eggs are three, four, or five in number, and their 

 original colour is white; but they soon become stained and 

 discoloured. 



Male; weight, about four pounds; length, two feet four or 

 five inches. Bill, at the base of the under mandible, yellowish 

 green, the remainder dusky black; iris, green. There is a 

 rich dark green crest on the head in the spring, which is 



