THE SHAG. 269 



World. It is a migratory bird, but is seen on our coast at all sea- 

 sons. It breeds on the sea-shore, selecting for the purpose crags and 

 inaccessible places. Their nests are composed of sticks and sea- 

 weed. The eggs, generally three in number, are of a whitish colour 

 weighing about two ounces.* 



In Egypt four species of Cormorants are known. The Common 

 Cormorant is the size of a Goose ; this species is easily domesticated 

 and is frequently met with in France. 



The Green Cormorant or Shag (Phalacrocorax cristatus). 



This species is in weight about four pounds ; the bill is dusky, 

 and about four inches in length ; a bare yellow skin is situated along 

 the sides of the mouth and chin, the latter speckled with black. 

 The whole bird appears black at a little distance, but on nearer 

 examination, the head, neck, breast, and rump are of a glossy green. 

 The feathers of the upper part of the back, scapulars, and wing 

 coverts are pointed, and beautifully glossed with purple, violet, and 

 green, each feather being edged with a velvety black ; the under 

 part of the body is less glossed with green ; the legs are dusky black ; 

 middle claw serrated. 



The female weighs over three pounds ; the upper part of her 

 body is dark, not so densely glossed as in the male ; but the margin 

 of the feathers of the scapulars and wing coverts is black, the under 

 part is dusky, with a mixture of grey. 



Such is Colonel Montagu's description of a pair shot from the 

 nest, but they vary in plumage and colour. In habit the Shag is 

 strictly a salt-water bird, breeding on our rocky coasts, where it 

 builds a nest of stick and sea-weed. They resort to the maritime 

 caves of the Hebrides in such vast numbers that they literally cover 

 the sea to a considerable extent when on their passage from the 

 caves of Liuir and Toehead to their fishing-grounds in the Sound. 

 Mr. McGillivray has counted 105 in one flock. This picture Mr. 

 McGillivray makes the text for one of his most delightful descrip- 

 tions : — 



" There is a large cave," he says, " on the west coast of Harris, 

 celebrated for the number of Shags which reside on it, and so lofty 

 that a boat can enter it to a consideiable distance without lowering 

 the masts. When we reached the mouth of the cave a considerable 



* Sometimes they roost and build on hushes in the vicinity ol fresh-water 

 lakes.— Ed. 



