i;6 BRITISH SEA BIRDS. 



to one particular spot to breed, there can be little 

 doubt that it pairs for life. The birds begin to 

 associate closely in pairs somewhat early in spring ; 

 but actual nesting duties do not commence for a 

 little time after that event. In most places the 

 Cormorant breeds in colonies, the size apparently 

 varying according to the amount of accommodation. 

 For the present purpose we need not describe 

 in detail any of the inland nesting places of this 

 species, beyond remarking that the bird often 

 breeds in trees like Rooks, making a huge nest 

 of sticks and twigs, lined with grass. Upon the 

 coast the favourite breeding resorts of the Cor- 

 morant are ranges of lofty cliffs, and small low 

 islands and reefs. The nest may thus either be on 

 the ground as at the Fame Islands, for instance 

 or on a ledge of the cliffs. When in the former 

 situation it is generally composed of masses of sea- 

 weed, stalks of marine plants, and lined with green 

 grass or other herbage. A Cormorant's nesting 

 place is by no means a pleasant one for persons 

 whose olfactory nerves are sensitive, the smell from 

 the decaying fish, and from the droppings of the 

 birds, that literally whitewash the whole vicinity, 

 being sickening in the extreme. Other sea fowl 

 usually give these colonies a wide birth. The eggs 

 are from three to six in number, of a delicate 

 bluish -green where the colour can be detected 

 through the abundant coating of lime small for 

 the size of the bird, and long and oval in shape. 



