THE COMMON OR GREAT CORMORANT. 243 



this singular circumstance alluded to, though from observation 

 made on a bird in the garden of the Zoological Society, London, 

 respecting the period of the first appearance (January 4th), and 

 total disappearance (May 12th), of the plumage under considera- 

 tion, it might be inferred that unless the cormorant breed very 

 early, such must be the case.* On the Earn Islands, however, 

 Mr. Selby informs us he has had repeated'opportunities of verify- 

 ing that the garb is retained " till after reproduction has been 

 effected ;" — no dates are mentioued.f 



So early as the 24th January, 1832, the Rev. T. Knox received 

 a female bird in the full plumage of Bewick^s ' crested corvorant,' 

 with white on thighs, &c. ; the eggs in this individual were very 

 large. On the 21st and 22nd of February, 1849, several birds 

 were seen in this attire at Larne Lough. A fowler informs 

 me that he has commonly seen and shot cormorants in this plu- 

 mage in Belfast Bay, from the middle to the end of March, soon 

 after which time they leave it (on the 21st of April, 1847, 

 he saw two birds there with white tliigh-marks, &c.), and do not 

 return until after the breeding season, when the white thigh-spot, 

 or " watch, which they carry under the wing," is dropped, with 

 all other gay adornments, and they appear in a full suit of sable. 



This cormorant has many places of nidification on the coast of 

 Kerry, as Muckalaw rock (Tralee Bay), Kerry and Brandon 

 Heads, J Magharee Islands, entrance to Dingle Bay, on each side, 

 smaller Skellig rock, &c.§ On the coast of the neighbouring 

 county — Cork — " the shags and cormorants " are said to abound, 

 and are believed to breed at Fyleneshogue, near Glandore harbour, 

 and at Black Eock ; at Cape Clear they have been observed on 

 their nests. || Mr. R. Warren, jun., M'hen visiting the rocky 



* Full particulars of this change of plumage (made by James Hunt, keeper) will 

 be found in Mr. Yarrell's paper ' On the Plumage of Bii'ds ' (Zool. Trans, vol. i. 

 p. 18), and in his history of British species. 



f The rock-climber at the Gobbins states that the cormorant bred there in March, 

 which, if correct, would leave it sufficient time to bring its young to matui-ity before 

 changing plumage. 



I Mr. R. D. Fitzgerald, jun. § Mr. R. Chute. 



jl Mr. J. F. Townscnd. 



R 2 



