266 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



preference, however, to tropical countries ; still they are plentiful in 

 the Hebrides, in Norway, in Scotland, and are even found as far 

 north as Kamtschatka and the Gulf of Bothnia, according to Acerbi. 

 But when residents of high latitudes, they migrate southward on 

 the approach of cold weather. In the winter season they frequent 

 the coast of Cornwall, and are found, in fact, in every part of the 

 British and Irish Channel, generally keeping out at sea. fhey are 

 constant attendants on the large quantities of herrings and pilchards 

 that frequent our coast late in autumn. 



This bird takes its prey by darting down on it with great velocity. 

 When swimming, it floats upon the water with the buoyancy of a 

 Gull, not submerged, as is the case with the Shag, Cormorant, or 

 Northern Diver. 



Three species of Sula are known : the Solan Goose or Gannet 

 (Sula bassana, Fig. 98), which is very common on the Bass Rock, a 

 small islet in the Firth of Forth, this is the only European species; 

 the Common Gannet {Sula dactylatrd) — vulgarly called mouche de 

 velours — this is smaller than the preceding, and is found about 

 southern tropical and temperate seas ; and the Brown Gannet (Sula 

 fusca), which inhabits South America. 



The Cormorant (Phalacrocorax). 



The Cormorant is distinguished by a bill straight and com- 

 pressed, the upper mandible curving downwards, and forming a 

 hook at the termination ; lower mandible inserted in a small mem- 

 brane extending under the throat ; feet strong, short, toes three 

 before and one behind, united by a membrane ; nail of the middle- 

 toe serrated ; wings moderate, the first quill longer than the second, 

 the whole being blackish ; the upper part of the back and wings 

 ashy brown, or bronzed in the middle, bordered by a large band 

 of glossy greenish black. 



The Cormorant (Phalacrocorax car bo, Fig. 99) has a massive and 

 rather awkward body, feet short and drawn back to the abdomen, 

 the head flattened and small, the guttural pouch very small. Their 

 bulk varies. On the south coast of England they are large birds, 

 Pennant having weighed one which exceeded seven pounds, and 

 measured three feet four inches. Their blackish plumage has given 

 the idea of some resemblance existing between them and the crow ; 

 hence their name, Cormorant, from Corvus vorans, which signifies a 

 voracious crow. 



These birds have a wide geographical distribution, being found 



