CHAPTER VIII 



BIEDS OF THE SEA AND COAST 



ORDER STEGANOPODES 



The Cormorants are represented in South Africa by four 

 species, two of which we have akeady treated of under the 

 chapter " Birds of Eiver and Vlei," viz., the White-breasted 

 Cormorant and the Eeed Cormorant. 



There still remains the Cape Cormorant or Trek Duiker (as 

 it is known amongst the Cape Dutch) and the Bank Duiker 

 or Speckle-necked Cormorant. The former (Phalacrocorax 

 capensis) is black, with a slight purplish sheen, the front of 

 the neck and chest being of a dark brown. Naked skin round 

 the eye, and the throat yellow. Tail feathers, 14 in number. 

 Length, 25 inches. It is found on the coast belt from Durban 

 round the Cape to Walfish Bay, and further north. 



It breeds on the islands off the South African Coast, such 

 as Jutten and Dassen Islands, and their droppings form part 

 of the valuable deposits of guano, which is annually collected 

 by the Cape Government, after the birds have finished breed- 

 ing. This species builds a fiat nest of sticks and grass on 

 the ground, and lays from two to five eggs of a pale blue 

 colour, covered with a chalky white substance. It lives 

 upon fish and shellfish, and swims and dives with great 

 ease. 



The Speckle-necked Cormorant {Phalacrocorax neglectus) 

 is of much the same coloration as the Cape Cormorant, but 



