214 THE BIRDS OF BERKS AND BUCKS. 

 Family PELECANID^E. 



CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax Carbo). An extremely 

 rare visitor so far inland, although numerous enough 

 on many of our rocky coasts. An example was taken 

 on Frilham Pond, near Newbury, in November, 1803, 

 as recorded in Morris's 'British Birds.' Mr. John 

 Wig shot a good specimen of the Cormorant about 

 the year 1857, near Marlow Railway Bridge, as I have 

 been informed by my friend Mr. Sharpe. It gave no 

 little trouble before it was secured, and showed con- 

 siderable expertness in diving. It was placed in the 

 collection of Lord Boston, at Hedsor, but this col- 

 lection has since become dispersed. In 1858 a 

 solitary Cormorant was shot on the large sheet of 

 water at Weston Turville, in Buckinghamshire. It 

 is now stuffed and in the possession of Mr. T. 

 Billington, by whom it was killed. 



SHAG (Phalacrocorax graculus). Like the last- 

 named, a rare and accidental visitant, seldom flying 

 far from the sea. 



The Rev. F. O. Morris states that a Shag was pro- 

 cured near Pangbourne, in Berkshire, in September, 

 1794. A good female specimen of this bird was shot 

 on the Thames, near Wraysbury, by Mr. Saunders, 

 of Staines, in 1850, and came into the hands of 

 Mr. Hasell for preservation. Those who take an 

 interest in the habits, food, and variations of plumage 

 in this species will be well repaid by referring to the 



