COMMON CORMORANT. 463 



by a sudden and precise movement of the neck and head, as seldom to 

 miss one in a dozen. 



The courtship of this species is so similar to that of the Florida Cormo- 

 rant, that I consider it unnecessary to describe it, as I should merely repeat 

 what has been said with respect to that species. I have seen them act in 

 the same manner, both on the shelves on which the nests were placed, and 

 on the water. They begin to lay about the first of June, on the islands 

 near the Bay of Fundy, about a fortnight later in Labrador ; and it is 

 my opinion that the younger birds spend their breeding season in the 

 former places. 



The Common Cormorant walks in a waddling and awkward manner, 

 but at a good pace, and leaps from one stone to another, assisting itself 

 with its wings, and occasionally with the tail, which acts as a kind of 

 spring. I am unable to say at what age this species attains the full dress 

 of the love season, but it cannot be in less than three years, as some which 

 I have known to have been kept in a state of constant captivity, did not 

 shew the white patch on the thigh, nor the slender white feathers around 

 the head and part of the neck, until the middle of May, in the fifth year. 

 That the younger birds of this and other Cwmorants, breed before they 

 have acquired the full beauty of their plumage, is a fact which I have 

 had many opportunities of ascertaining. The Common Cormorant is 

 found breeding, both near the entrance of the Bay of Fundy, and along 

 the coast of Labrador, in flocks of fifty or more pairs, of which not an 

 individual shews any white unless on the sides of the head, and along the 

 throat, but much duller on these parts than even in the female repre- 

 sented in the plate, which was yet what may be termed an immature bird. 

 No differences appear in the garb of the sexes, in their different states of 

 plumage, and perfect specimens of both are equally beautiful in the breed- 

 ing season, being then similar to the male of which I have endeavoured 

 to present a good portrait. I have observed a greater difference in size 

 between individuals of this species, than those of any other. 



The white markings observed on the old birds of this species, during 

 the period of courtship, incubation, and rearing of the young until they 

 are able to fly, and which extends to two months and a half, begin to 

 disappear from the moment incubation has fairly begun, and at the time 

 when the young leave the nest scarcely any remain, unless on the sides 

 of the head. In autumn and Avinter the feathers of the head are similar 

 to those of the neck, and the plumage in general has lost much of its ver- 



