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heather, &c. ; and the eggs, three or four in number, are bluish white, covered with a chalky 

 substance, elongated in shape, and rather smaller than those of the Cormorant. 



Respecting its habits in Great Britain I cannot do better than transcribe the following 

 excellent notes from Macgillivray's ' British Birds,' v. p. 396 : — " There is a large cave on the 

 west coast of Harris celebrated for the number of Scarts which reside in it, and so lofty that a 

 boat can enter to a considerable distance without having the masts taken down. I have several 

 times visited it for the purpose of shooting the birds in the breeding-season, when they had 

 numerous nests on its sides. When we appear off the mouth of the cave, we see a con- 

 siderable number of Scarts conspicuously perched on the little shelves and projections, their 

 dusky figures strongly relieved by the whitened surface of the rock. Some of them fly overhead 

 as we approach ; but more drop into the water like a stone. On looking down, we see them 

 rapidly wending their way under the boat, flying with outspread wings, and not at all in the 

 manner represented by some, who say that this bird propels itself under water entirely by the 

 feet and tail. Of this I am certain, having been an eye-witness of the fact. Glancing aloft, we 

 see many Black Guillemots in the clefts, and above them the eyrie of the White-tailed Sea- 

 Eagle ; but our business is with the Scarts, which, now alarmed, are seen writhing their long 

 necks as they gaze upon us. Presently a shot is fired — another ; the dead birds drop on the 

 water, the living plunge headlong into it ; many advance on wing, but, being frightened by the 

 upraised oars, dart into the water. Advancing a little, we find that many still remain on the 

 rocks ; and of these we shoot some more. Presently some of those which had escaped return and 

 perch ; and thus we continue shooting until we have obtained as many as we desire. After all 

 the uproar, several still remain standing near their nests, so loth are they to quit them. 

 Although most of the nests are beyond reach, some are accessible. We find them generally 

 bulky, but sometimes very scanty, formed of fuci, twigs, heath, and grass, rudely put together, 

 nearly flat, or with a shallow cavity, containing two, frequently three, sometimes four eggs, never 

 more. The eggs are generally soiled by the feet of the birds, like those of the Gannet and 

 Grebes. In some of the nests are young birds in various stages. At first they are bare all over, 

 and of a purplish-black colour. Presently, however, they are covered with brownish-black down, 

 soft, but not close, and leaving the head, part of the neck, and the abdomen bare. Then the 

 feathers gradually sprout ; the birds rapidly increase in size, and in seven or eight weeks are 

 fledged. They are at first fed with half-digested fish disgorged by their mother, and at length, 

 becoming very plump, are esteemed delicate food by the Hebridians. I have eaten a portion of 

 one, but did not relish it ; and the flesh of the adult bird is much worse. 



"To one of these caves is a narrow passage from the land. I have often crept into it, and, 

 advancing stealthily, have seen eight or ten Scarts below, at the distance of a few yards, brooding- 

 over their eggs or young, or standing beside them. On the arrival of their mother, the young 

 open their bills wide, stretching up their necks with a wriggling kind of motion, and receive 

 their food from her mouth. The nest, as well as the rocks around, is covered w r ith white dung; 

 and a disagreeable stench, as of putrid fish, emanates from them. The Rock-Pigeons frequently, 

 and Starlings sometimes, roost and nestle in these caves. On my shouting, these birds instantly 

 flew off; but the Cormorants remained standing in a state of great anxiety, until I showed 

 myself, when they would take wing, leaving their young at my mercy. They soon returned, 



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