THE SHAG. 403 



Field -characters. — In habits and appearance not unlike Cor- 

 morant, but noticeably smaller, whilst adult has greenish -black 

 plumage and yellow of gape and gular region deeper in colour. In 

 breeding-dress recurved frontal crest and lack of white thigh-spot 

 and hoary head are distinctive ; breast of immature bird is never 

 white. More restricted to rocky coasts than Cormorant, and seldom 

 wanders inland. Often springs clear of water in diving, whilst 

 Cormorant usually submerges its head and glides under with 

 scarcely a ripple. Saunders describes the harsh cry as " kroak- 

 kraik-kroak." 



Breeding -habits. — Purely marine, not venturing inland except 

 accidentally, and breeding in hollows of sea-caves, ledges of cliffs, 

 or sometimes among fallen boulders on beach. Nest. — Mainly of 

 seaweeds, often in advanced stage of decay, but sticks, heather and 

 grass also used. Eggs. — Normally 3, sometimes 2 only or 4 and 

 rarely 5 or even 6, with pale blue under-shell as in Cormorant, 

 overlaid with irregular layer of chalky -white deposit. Average of 

 100 British eggs 62.9x38.4. Max.: 74.6x38 and 60.4x41.7. 

 Min. : 56.6x39.1 and 61.1x34.9 mm. Breeding -season. — Very 

 variable, owing to exposed nature of sites : first eggs late March 

 and early April, but where often destroyed by heavy seas fresh 

 eggs may be found in May, June and even later, for young have 

 been seen in nest in Oct. Eggs have been met with also in Feb. and 

 Sept. l7icubation.—By both sexes. Period 24-27 days. 



Food. — Almost entirely sea-fish, such as plaice, sillock, wrasse, 

 eels (up to 2 ft. long), herring, garfish and " father -lasher," etc. 

 Exceptionally also Crustacea and mollusca (Mytilus). 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Resident. Does not breed on south 

 coast England eastwards of Isle of Wight, nor east coast England 

 except occasionally on Fame Isles and rarely on Northumberland 

 coast, nor east coast Ireland from co. Antrim southwards, except 

 Wicklow Head and co. Dublin islands where a few breed. Elsewhere 

 on coasts generally distributed and usually more common than 

 Cormorant. Scarce visitor inland. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Coasts of west Europe from Norway to 

 Portugal, Faeroes and Iceland. Replaced in Mediterranean by 

 P. graculus desmarestii, and a doubtful form on west coast of 

 Marocco. 



Family SULID^E. 



Number of cervical vertebrae 18. Of muscles of leg only 

 semitendinosus, femoro-caudalis, and ambiens present. Palatines 

 fused in middle line, with slight median keel. No syrinx muscles. 

 Bill stout, straight, pointed, tapering gradually towards tip, which 

 is very slightly curved, not hooked, cutting edges finely serrated, 

 upper mandible with an angulated cleft in front of lores, a linear 



