THE CORVORANT. 



nests on trees, if near: at other times they lay on the rocks; the 



eggs one or two. 

 are of a flesh 

 color, marked 

 with crimson 

 spots. The 

 young birds 

 covered with a 

 g r ey i sh-white 

 down, are assid- 

 uously attended 

 by the parents 

 who are then 

 tame, and easily 

 approached. 

 When alarmed, 

 like Gulls, they 

 as readily cast 

 up the contents 

 of their pouch, 

 as these birds 

 do of the stom- 

 ach. r l he gene- 

 ral plumage is 

 brownish - black, 

 with violet re- 

 flections, except 

 the wing coverts 

 which have a 



FRIGATE PEUCAN. 



rufous tinge. 



THE CORVORAXT. 



These birds are common on many of our sea-coasts. They build 

 tneir nests on the highest parts of the clifi's, that hang over the sea ; 

 and lay three or more pale green e<rgs, about the size of those of a 

 Goose. In winter they disperse along the shores, and visit the fresh 

 waters, where they commit great depredations among the fish. They 

 are remarkably voracious ; having a most rapid digestion, promoted 

 perhaps, by an infinite number of small worms which fill their intes- 

 tines. They are very wary, except when they have filled their 

 stomach; but in this case they sometimes become so stupid, that it ia 

 easy to take them in a net, or even by means of a noose thrown ovei 

 their heads. 



Their smell when alive, is excessively rank and disagreeable; and 

 their flesh is so disgusting, that even the Grccnlanders, among wnom 

 they are very common, will scarcely eat them. 



It is no uncommon thing to see, on the rocks of the sea-coast, 

 twenty of these birds together, with extended wings, drying them- 

 selves in the wind; in this position they remain sometimes nearly au 

 hour, without once closing their wings, and, as soon as these are suf 



