NOTES AND QUERIES. 231 



intelligent observers, we should still be in the dark as to exact facts, but so 

 it is. Guillemots are found on our coasts very early in the year in nuptial 

 dress. On January 20th, 1893, I saw several birds in full summer plumagr, 

 swimming close to my boat, a few miles off Scarborough. — Oxlex Grabham 

 (Westfield House, Flaxton, York). 



[As to the mode in which the Guillemot brings down its young from the 

 cliff, see Zool. 1875, pp. 4342 and 46G6.-Ed.] 



Nesting Habits of Cormorants as observed in Co. Donegal.— On 

 May 9th I visited a breeding place of the Great Cormorant, or " Scart," and 

 another of the Green Cormorant, or Shag (P. crlstatus), about 300 yards 

 apart, and a few miles from here. The breeding-places of both species are on 

 low cliffs, about sixty feet, and less, vertically above deep water. The Green 

 Cormorants, or Shags, occupy those at the mouth of a cave, as is their 

 habit. The nests are placed in several instances only three or four yards 

 below the upper edge, so that one can sit and watch them, with an opera- 

 glass, in perfect leisure, for they never dream of leaving their nests. The 

 two colonies are close together, but one consists almost wholly of " Scarts," 

 the other largely of*' Shags." The first thing that struck me with surprise 

 was the appearance of Jackdaws on the scene. They had their nests in 

 deep narrow fissures, and were on terms of perfect amity with the Cor- 

 morants. Several pairs of Jackdaws went in and out of these fissures, 

 which were in some cases only a few inches from the nests of the 

 Cormorants. Again, a pair of Ravens certainly breed close by, from 

 their ceaseless din all the time I remained in the neighbourhood. This 

 din is not the deep croak uttered by a Raven flying leisurely overhead, or 

 at a season other than the breeding season. It is an angry, quick cry, and 

 not nearly so deep. The Ravens went for the Jackdaws, but the latter 

 eluded them easily, and considered it mere pastime. I imagine the Jack- 

 daws are useful scavengers, and are tolerated for that reason. The Ravens 

 probably fear no foe, but they are on good terms apparently with their 

 sooty aquatic neighbours. The nests of the Cormorant are constructed, as 

 is the case with many another bird, of the substances most easily obtainable. 

 In this case the outer framework is in every case made of the dead wood of 

 the burnt heather sticks. Burning heather to obtain young growth for pasture 

 is an infamous practice which has reached a maximum on the mountains 

 above these cliffs. The nests were lined also in every case with mosses 

 gathered from the hills above. Indeed, when the nests are within a few- 

 yards of these materials, it would be rank stupidity to descend to the sea 

 and after some difficulty obtain an inferior material to be carried up, not 

 down. Some of the nests (of either species) were just completed. The 

 next one might have eggs, while in many others the young were hatched 

 and crying like little chickens. This irregularity in their breeding date 

 may be compared with that of the individual in its incubation. The tribe 



