158 



8 



and those from Australia and New Zealand rather large, but smaller than American examples, 

 not differing, however, at all in plumage. 



In Australia, Mr. Gould writes (B. of Austr. ii. p. 489), " though enjoying a wide range over 

 the southern part of the country, it is nowhere so abundant as in Tasmania. In this island it not 

 only inhabits all the bays and inlets of the sea, but it also ascends the large rivers even to the 

 lakes in the middle of the island, on several of which it breeds. In Western Australia it is 

 tolerably abundant at King George's Sound ; it also ascends the Swan, and is sometimes observed 

 far up the Murray In South Australia and New South Wales it frequents similar localities." 

 Mr. Buller considers that the Australian and New-Zealand Cormorant can be separated specifically 

 from Phalacrocorax carbo ; but I quite agree with Professor Schlegel and Dr. Finsch that they 

 are identical. In New Zealand, according to Mr. Buller, this species is very common on the 

 coasts and within the mouths of the tidal rivers. 



In the Nearctic Region the Cormorant is found only on the Atlantic coasts from Hudson's 

 Bay and Labrador down to those of Carolina and Georgia, penetrating even, though rarely, into 

 the interior as far as the Missouri river, breeding in the northern portions of its range, and 

 occurring in the south in winter. American examples all run large in size ; and one I obtained 

 in the Bay of Fundy measures — culmen 3*45 inches, gape 4T5, wing 14 - 4, tail 8"0, tarsus 3 - 0, 

 being thus, even for an American specimen, a large bird. In Europe, however, specimens vary 

 very greatly in size, even from the same localities, those from the north, however, being as a 

 rule considerably larger than those inhabiting southern latitudes. 



Though more frequently seen on fresh water than its congener the Shag, the Cormorant is 

 more especially a sea-bird ; and with us in England it is, as a rule, found on the sea-coasts, and 

 only exceptionally on the rivers and fresh water. Voracious to a degree, it is a terrible scourge 

 in places where fish are preserved, and a single pair will soon clear a small loch of fish if allowed 

 free access to it without being disturbed. In the Bay of Fundy I procured a fine old male, out of 

 which I took twelve good-sized herrings, all in a tolerable state of preservation ; and it is some- 

 what remarkable that it had not attained the summer dress, though it was then early in May. 

 I used to see the Cormorants sitting perched on the pinnacles of the rugged cliffs, frequently with 

 their wings and tails spread out as if to dry themselves in the sun ; and I generally observed that 

 they resorted to the same resting-places. The Cormorant swims extremely well, and dives even 

 better, trusting to its swiftness under water for a supply of food ; and when gorged it will retire 

 to some favourite resting-place on a rocky point, and sit quietly until it has digested its meal, 

 which, as a rule, is a very heavy one. When fishing it appears almost always to swim with its 

 head under water, and when diving glides quietly under the surface without making a heavy 

 plunge. It is extremely wary and vigilant, and, when fishing anywhere near the shore, always 

 keeps a bright look-out ; and at the least sign of danger it will gradually sink its body in the 

 water until all but the head and upper part of the neck is submerged. Its flight is direct and 

 tolerably swift ; but it rises from the water with some difficulty, striking the water with its wings 

 and feet for a short distance before it gets fairly on the wing. When passing from place to place 

 the Cormorants usually fly in strings at no great altitude above the water. They alight abruptly 

 both on the water and on land, and walk with difficulty and clumsily. The present species feeds 

 on fish of various kinds, both freshwater and sea-fish — such as herrings, sprats, and other fish of 



