SHAG OR GREEN CORMORANT. 457 



THE SHAG OE GEEEN COEMOEANT. 



PEA LA CROCORA X GRA CUL US: 



Sgarbh. 



THE Green Cormorant, though less numerous on the western shores 

 of the Scottish mainland than the preceding species, is abundant 

 in the Outer Hebrides, where it is permanently resident and to a 

 great extent gregarious. It is found breeding in great numbers in 

 all the caves which intersect the precipitous coasts of Harris and 

 Barra, and also on the uninhabited rocks, such as the Haskeir 

 group and other islands lying to the west of North Uist. Very 

 large companies frequent the sounds which separate the islands; 

 and in these stations they are seen daily, at certain states of the 

 tide, fishing in congregations which, in extent, remind one of a 

 dense colony of guillemots. Late in the afternoon they rise on 

 wing in detachments and betake themselves to the caves, in which 

 they generally pass the night. One of these caves named Liuir, 

 on the west side of Harris, is perhaps the best known throughout 

 the Long island. There cannot be less than two or three hundred 

 Green Cormorants in it during the breeding season, and at other 

 times of the year it gives ample shelter to the poor birds when the 

 fury of the winter storms prevents a seaward flight. In the Inner 

 Hebrides this Cormorant is equally common, frequenting similar 

 caves. Dr Dewar found a large breeding colony in the island of 

 Eum : the nests were chiefly on broken boulders not far from the 

 water's edge, and the birds were so tame as to allow themselves to 

 be seized with the hand before quitting the nest. Nearer the 

 mainland it is found in Skye, Mull, lona, and Stafla, as well as 

 upon Islay, Jura, and Gigha; a few pairs frequent Ailsa Craig, and 

 I have observed considerable numbers in the caves along the rocky 

 shores of Ayrshire and Wigtownshire. It is frequent at the Mull 

 of Galloway, and at Burrow Head; thence northward as far as 

 Garliestown. I have seen from forty to fifty in one day while 

 driving between these two places. 



The nest of the Green Cormorant is usually built of heather 

 and sea-weed, and is at best a very clumsy structure. At the 

 end of the season it is so much trampled and besmeared with 

 dung and the remains of putrid fish that it is not easy to recognise 



