168 



6 



however, and, on my again hiding, forgot their alarm. Many little things are neglected on such 

 occasions, however keen the observer may be ; and I have now to regret that I can say nothing 

 with certainty as to the cries of either young or old. 



"Although most of them repose in the caves and fissures all the year, many, after the 

 breeding-season, roost on the shelves of rocks. Sometimes during very severe storms in winter, 

 when the sea is so agitated as to prevent a bird from seeing into it, they remain at home all day ; 

 but this seldom happens, even on the most exposed parts of the coasts, as the creeks and little 

 bays present smoother water. It does not appear that this species often visits lakes or rivers. 

 Nor is it ever met with far out at sea, its favourite fishing-stations being the eddies of channels, 

 bays, and estuaries. Great numbers frequent particular low rocks or insular crags for the 

 purpose of resting at some period of the day, generally between ebb and high water. There 

 they preen themselves, spread out their wings in the sun or wind, and repose in a standing 

 posture, with contracted neck. 



" In dry weather, I have often seen individuals of this species, while swimming, erect them- 

 selves in the water, and, spreading out their wings, remain in that posture for a long time. On 

 the rocks, and sometimes on low islands and sandbanks, it is common enough to see them with 

 all their broad funereal banners spread oat. Although not so shy as the Great Cormorants, they 

 seldom allow a boat to come within shot on such occasions ; and while engaged in fishing they 

 cannot often be obtained, on account of their vigilance and the extreme rapidity of their move- 

 ments. On being fired at, or otherwise alarmed, they always dive, and reappear at a distance. 

 They rise heavily from the water, striking it with their feet and wings to a considerable distance ; 

 and in alighting, on it or on the rocks, they come down abruptly. On land they move clumsily, 

 being incapable of walking effectively. Indeed the roosting-places of many of them do not 

 present a surface of a foot square ; and they never alight elsewhere, unless for the purpose of 

 resting. Toward evening, when their labours are finished, they may be seen wending their way 

 in silence over the sea, generally near the coast, and in strings to their roosting-places." 



Mr. Benzon informs me that sometimes a disease rages amongst the Shags in the Fseroes, 

 and when attacked by it the birds go on land and die in large numbers. When suffering 

 under this disease, they can be easily caught with the hand. I may also add that Mr. Collett, 

 who informs me that the Shag, which breeds in large numbers in the north of Norway, in 

 company with Eiders, Kittiwakes, and other sea-birds, though seldom with the Cormorants, 

 usually deposits three, sometimes five or six, and occasionally as many as eight eggs. " On the 

 26th June 1872," he adds, " nests were found at the North Cape, some of which contained eggs, 

 and others half-fledged young. A similar disparity is observed in the broods, the young being of 

 different sizes in the same nest. The old birds keep their offspring gorged with fish." 



The specimens figured are an adult male from Orkney and a young bird from the Mediter- 

 ranean, both of which are in my own collection. 



In the preparation of the above article I have, besides the series from the Mediterranean 

 collected by Lord Lilford, examined the following specimens :— 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser, 

 a, 6,b,2. Orkneys {Dunn), c. Faroes, 1871 {Benzon). d,juv. Coast of Sicily {Doderlein). 



