142 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. vm. 



Cormorants considered their unconventional choice of 

 a home a domestic success. It seems to me that they 

 always went out to sea for their food supply ; at any 

 rate, I never saw them take fish from the lake. On 

 August 21st I again sUpped into my tent about 2.30 a.m. 

 Soon after 3 a.m. eight Green Sandpipers alighted with 

 merry call-notes close to me, and ran about the sands. 

 They bathed and preened themselves, chased each other 

 along the water's edge in a way wholly deUghtful to 

 look at, but terribly gaUing to the photographer. When 

 the light came, and with it the geese and Herons, these 

 charming Httle waders flew off to another part of the 

 lake. They were playing round us the night before, 

 but I think must have moved on during the morning, 

 for they were not in evidence after dawn. The whole 

 Cormorant family came down to bathe with the geese 

 about 8 o'clock and then went away. In aU probabiHty 

 they spend the greater part of the day by the sea and 

 retire to the lake to roost. Young birds have been 

 seen at Hasbro' recently, but, of course, they are not 

 necessarily members of this particular family. 



One of the most interesting facts in the life-history of 

 these Cormorants was the persistence with which they 

 returned to the nest for meals, and also to roost. 

 Unfortunately I was unable to continue observations 

 later than August 21st, and so far have not succeeded 

 in obtaining any later information with regard to their 

 habits and movements. 



