THE SHAG. 401 



scapulars. This plumage is acquired by complete moult com- 

 mencing June (sometimes May) when crest -feathers of summer are 

 dropped and winter feathers begin to grow on crown and chin to 

 Sept. and Oct. Moult of primaries and occasionally tail appears to 

 continue until Jan., but it is possible that they moult twice with 

 rest of plumage. Summer. — A moult involving whole body- 



The Shag (Phalacrocorax g. graculus). Adult, summer. 



plumage and wing-coverts takes place Oct. (crest -feathers usually 

 grow Dec.) to Feb. ; wing-feathers and often tail are growing 

 during this period and may be renewed twice. Plumage as winter 

 but giossy colours on whole bird much more brilliant, whole of 

 chin and throat glossy without any white or brown ; in centre of 

 crown large tuft of elongated, semi-erect feathers (40-50 mm. 

 long), slightly curved forwards and of rather loose structure, forming 

 conspicuous crest ; white tufted filoplumes numerous and often 

 showing beyond feathers of neck as minute white dots, as also in 

 winter, but less conspicuous. 



Nestling. — When first hatched naked, skin brown, subsequently 

 very thickly covered with brown down paler than in Cormorant, 

 greyish-white at base, and often whitish (growing later) on throat ; 

 lores, round eyes, base of bill and chin bare and down on upper- 

 throat very sparse (often a few white tufts as in Cormorant). This 

 down is shed as juvenile feathers grow but is not replaced by them 

 nor is it replaced directly in continuous growth by under-down of 

 feathered stage though the under-down may succeed it. 



Juvenile. — Whole upper -parts dark brown glossed green 

 especially on crown, back, and rump ; feathers of mantle and 

 scapulars somewhat pointed and evenly and narrowly margined 

 black-brown, tips, especially of scapulars, becoming pale brown 

 when slightly worn ; sides of head pale brown ; chin brownish- 

 white ; centre of throat, sometimes centre of breast and belly and 

 vol. n. 2d 



