246 PELECANID^. 



who, after all, may have had to try his way to the Saltees through 

 the black night. 



" As my residence lies close to a narrow part of Wexford 

 harbour, and between the principal part of its area and their 

 roosting-place, I think I may conclude that nearly all the birds 

 of this species wliich make out their livelihood there, pass within 

 sight of my door. If this supposition be correct the number is 

 not great, for not more than from twenty to forty bii'ds pass by 

 daily. So bad a flier is the cormorant, that when the wind is 

 high, as tliis evening, he can scarcely make any way whatever 

 against it, A great number of gulls of different species follow 

 the same track as the cormorant, the black-headed [Lams ridi- 

 bundus) being very common." It was mentioned three days after 

 the preceding note that — " The cormorants met such opposition 

 from a strong southern gale, that finding themselves totally unable 

 to make head against it they betook themselves to the water, and, 

 having the tide in their favour, pursued their journey successfully 

 among the waves." 



Cormorants are frequently observed perched on stones round 

 Swan Island, Larue Lough, their daily fishing station at high water, 

 and one morning at day-break, in February 1847, a correspon- 

 dent of accurate observation saw about a dozen of these bii"ds 

 perching there, where he had no doubt they spent the night. It 

 was high water at the time. On the lower portion of a ruined 

 building, called the Block-house, situated on a little islet at the 

 entrance of Carliugford Lough, they are stated to remain during 

 the night, particularly in stormy weather. 



Cormorants regularly appear in flocks far up Belfast Bay after 

 tlie breeding season, and their arrival is welcomed as a proof 

 that there are plenty of fish; early in September 1839, fifteen 

 were seen together near Conswater, and a flock of similar number 

 appeared on wing, coming from the dnection of Strangford 

 Lough. Some were seen on the 17th of August, 1840 ; and on 

 the 23rd of that mouth, in 1844, a flock of sixteen came up the 

 bay on wing, as usual at this season, when young fish, such as 

 codlins,' blockans {Gadida), &c., are abundant: the birds appear 



