176 



following particulars respecting the habits of Phalacrocorax pygmceus : — When seated, this bird 

 sits with its body erect, the tail somewhat drooped, and the neck drawn into an S-shape, and much 

 shortened. When any thing attracts its attention it stretches the neck somewhat, but never straight 

 out. The tuft on the forehead is then laid flat, whereas when the bird is sitting quietly or 

 swimming it carries it erect. Its favourite perch is, curiously enough, on a reed growing straight 

 out of the water, which it clutches with its feet close above the water, holding its body erect, 

 the tail being pressed against the stem : and it is rather strange that it remains so long in this 

 odd position; for the upper foot is much drawn in, and the lower one greatly stretched out. 

 In a tree or bush it perches indifferently on a horizontal, vertical, or erect bough, and appears 

 not to care if it is no thicker than a reed or is stouter than a man's thumb. It has generally 

 some favourite perch, where it may almost always be seen, usually on the sunny side of a forest 

 of reeds, or in an open place amongst the reeds ; and generally several frequent the same place. 

 It climbs about amongst the aquatic vegetation with ease ; but on the ground it appears to 

 be almost helpless. It swims, however, excellently, and is thoroughly at home in the water, 

 both on the surface and underneath ; for it dives with the greatest ease. When swimming, but 

 little of the body is exposed to view, and the neck is curved into an S-shape; and when it feels 

 itself insecure it exposes nothing but its head and the upper part of its neck, and frequently 

 dives, swimming some distance under the water. On the wing it is swift, and propels itself with 

 quick flaps of the wings, every now and again gliding with outstretched motionless wings for 

 some distance, and except for this it not a little resembles the Mallard (Anas boschas) in its 

 flight. 



It is friendly towards others of its own species, and peaceable towards other birds, and 

 therefore lives and breeds in company with other species which frequent the localities it inhabits. 

 Though several pairs and often many live together, yet when they leave the nesting-place they 

 do so singly or in pairs, and not several together. Usually the female leaves first, and the male 

 follows her. It is a shy and very suspicious bird; and, except at its nesting-place, it is very 

 difficult to approach it within range. Near its nest, however, one can get within fifteen or 

 twenty yards of it — though, if a few shots are fired, they become shy, unless they have young, 

 when love for their offspring makes them brave every danger, and compels them to return to 

 their nests. 



It feeds entirely on small fishes, and will capture them up to three, four, or five inches in 

 length. It takes them when diving under the surface of the water, and will sometimes remain 

 several minutes underneath, appearing not unfrequently to dive down to the bottom. It breeds 

 in marshy localities in companies ; and often hundreds of individuals nest in company together 

 with Egrets, Spoonbills, and Ibises, in localities where the nests cannot be reached but with the 

 greatest difficulty, and only by wading almost up to one's neck in mud and water ; usually the 

 nest is built in willow bushes. " In these nest-covered bushes," writes Baron von Loebenstein, 

 " the Little Cormorant places its nest in the highest places, usually above seven or eight feet 

 from the surface, up to about ten feet. The nest resembles those of the Egrets and Ibises ; and 

 it. is possible that it takes possession of deserted nests of these birds, as the Cormorant does of 

 those of the Heron. The nest may not inaptly be compared to that of the Ring-Dove, being, 

 like that, built of dry sticks without any other materials; but it is stouter, and the centre is 



