THE SHAG. 367 



THE SHAG ( Carlo graculus). 



A figure of this bird is given on the plate at page '334, on 

 a scale of one-sixth of the lineal dimensions, or twice as large 

 in line, in proportion to the natural size of the bird, as the 

 cormorant on the plate at page 362. In form, character, 

 habits, and general haunts, the birds very much resemble 

 each other, only the shag is smaller, differently coloured, and 

 remains more habitually upon the shores, being rarely, if 

 ever, seen inland. 



Though these birds can both swim and dive, the water is 

 not their element ; their feet are better adapted for raising 

 them out of the water than for enabling them to make their 

 way through it ;* and as their eye is keen, their dart upon 

 their prey unerring, and the hold that they ever take with 

 their bill secure, they do not need to remain long in the 

 water. There is no waste in nature any more than there is 

 want. Accordingly, the birds of this genus, which require 

 but a short time in the water to gorge themselves, and which 

 would absolutely get so overloaded as to be unable to rise 

 from it at all, were they to continue long, have the feathers 

 less able to stand the water than those birds which spend the 

 greater part of their time in swimming or diving. They 

 are thus compelled, as it were, to ascend to the rocks, arid, 

 while the whole of their animal energy is engaged in the 



* We do not quite know what the author means, when he says the 

 water is not the element of the cormorants. Few birds are more 

 expressly formed for diving and pursuing their prey under the surface ; 

 and it is from the water alone that they derive their sustenance. They 

 can rest at ease upon the water; they can swim, though semi-submerged, 

 with alacrity, and dive with arrow -like rapidity and suddenness. They 

 spend the day in fishing for themselves, their mates, and young ; they 

 leave their roosting-places in the morning, hastening seaward, and return 

 after their labours in the evening. Their habits may be studied with 

 advantage on Southampton Water. M. 



