370 BRITISH BIRDS. 



with purple glossed black: the under parts are 

 black, glossed with green. 



The Shag is as greedy and voracious as the 

 Cormorant, and, like that bird, after having over- 

 gorged its stomach, is often found on shore in a 

 sleepy or stupified state; but when this torpor is 

 over, and they appear again upon the water, they 

 are then extremely alert, and are not easily shot, 

 for both kinds dive the instant they see the flash of 

 the gun, and take care afterwards to keep out of its 

 reach. In swimming they carry their head very 

 erect, while the body seems nearly submerged, and 

 from their feathers not being quite impervious to 

 the water, they do not remain very long upon it at 

 a time, but are frequently seen flying about, or 

 sitting on the rocks, flapping the moisture from 

 their wings, or keeping them for some time 

 expanded, to dry in the sun and the wind. Not- 

 withstanding the strong and offensive smell emitted 

 from the Shags and the Cormorants, some instances 

 are not wanting of their having been eaten in this 

 country; but before they are cooked, they must 

 undergo a certain sweetening process, part of 

 which consists in their being first skinned and 

 drawn, and then wrapped up in a clean cloth, and 

 buried for some time in the earth ; after which they 

 are made ready for eating in various ways, though 

 generally potted like Moor Game. 



