372 SWIMMERS. 



According to Lawson, they are observed in great flocks in Caro- 

 lina in March and April, when the herrings ascend the creeks, 

 at which time they are seen on fallen logs in the water waiting 

 and watching the approach of their prey. 



This species of Cormorant was formerly considered a common 

 winter visitor to New England, and nested sparingly along the 

 coast from Nahant to the Bay of Fundy ; but during recent years 

 it has been rarely seen south of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, though 

 in winter a few examples wander as far south as the New Jer- 

 sey shore. Mr. Hagerup reports the bird a resident of Greenland, 

 being most numerous in the northern section. 



Nuttall was mistaken in giving this bird a more southern range ; 

 Mr. Lawson, whom he quotes, probably confused the present spe- 

 cies with its Double-crested cousin, — a pardonable error in one to 

 whom the southern bird was not familiar when in its winter plu- 

 mage, for at that season the two species are somewhat similar in 

 appearance. 



DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. 



SHAG. 



Phalacrocorax dilophus. 



Char. Prevailing color black, with green reflections, the back and 

 wings varied with grayish brown ; gular sac orange ; bill bluish ; legs 

 and feet black. During the mating season the male wears crests of 

 long, thin plumes on the sides of the crown, extending from above the 

 eyes to the nape. In eastern or sea-coast birds these plumes are black, 

 but birds taken in the interior have white mingled with the black, and 

 in pacific-coast specimens the plumes are entirely white. Length about 

 32 inches. 



Nest. In a crevice of a sea-washed cliff, or on the beach of a lake or 

 on a tree by a river bank ; made of twigs and grass, — sometimes entirely 

 of marine herbage. 



Eggs. 2-5 ; chalky white and rough on the surface, with inner shell of 

 blue or green tint ; average size 2.40 X 1.40. 



The range of this species extends from the Gulf States to Lab- 

 rador and the Saskatchewan valley, and its breeding area from 

 about latitude 45° northward. It winters north to the Bay of Fundy 

 (sparingly). 



The Double-crested Cormorant is the common Shag of our salt- 

 water fishermen, and is numerous in Manitoba also, though rather 

 rare on the Great Lakes. 



