SHAG 7 



The ledges of a sea-cave are often tenanted by several 

 pairs breeding in close proximity, while dens in a sea-face 

 of boulder clay are also used. A strong pungent odour 

 pervades these dwelling-places, more especially when the 

 young are hatched or when incubation is far advanced. In 

 some cases solitary nests are built in recesses between loose 

 rocks and boulders. The Shag sits very closely on her nest, 

 sometimes allowing herself to be touched and even stroked 

 with the hand ; in many instances, however, she will bite 

 savagely. Once, on Lambay Island, I endeavoured to lift 

 a bird off her nest, but she held so firmly to the ledge of 

 the cave with the hooked extremity of her beak, that I 

 was obliged to set her free. With a low hoarse croak she 

 instantly retreated into the cave. The nest is composed 

 of damp decaying seaweeds and other vegetation, firmly 

 pressed into a compact mass. The eggs, three to four in 

 number, resemble those of the Cormorant, but are smaller ; 

 their shells are roughly coated with lime. 



Incubation begins early in April. 



The young, when first hatched, are naked and blind, and 

 are fed in the same way as young Cormorants. 



Geographical distribution. Abroad, the geographical 

 distribution of this species is more restricted than that of the 

 Cormorant. The Shag is common in the Faroes, on the 

 coast of Norway, and on some of the islands off the coast of 

 Russian Lapland. It breeds in the Channel Islands, also 

 on the west coasts of France, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. 



DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 



PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial. Head, (which from 

 January to May is surmounted by a handsome rosette-like 

 crest of soft wavy recurving feathers), neck, breast and 

 abdomen, rich metallic-green, reflecting tints of purple and 

 bronze ; feathers of the back and wings, dark green with 

 blackish margins ; primaries, and tail (of twelve feathers) 

 black. 



Adult female nuptial. Similar in colour to the male. 



Adult winter, male and female. The head-crest is 

 absent. 



Immature, male and female. Head, back of neck, back 

 and wings, dark brown with a greenish shade ; throat, breast 

 and abdomen, lighter brown, mottled with grey. 



