PLATE CLXXXIt 



Shag. ArB. ZooL 2. p. 581. w. 50S. 



Lath. Gen, Syn. 111. 2. p. 593. w. 14* 



The Shag is an inhabitant of the northern parts of Europe : it 

 occurs on the fea coafts of the Britifli ifles, and alfo thofe of Holland^ 

 Sweden, Norway, and Iceland. There is one variety of it found in 

 Cayenne and the Caribbee iflands, and another at the Cape of Good 

 Hope : but the variety found in Britain is that peculiar to the 

 northern regions. 



This bird is fmaller than the Corvorant, being only thirty inches 

 in length : hke that bird, its haunts are the rocky parts of our fea 

 coafts, where it breeds in the cliffs, and alfo like the Corvorant in 

 trees. Ray informs us, the eggs are long and white. When on land, 

 the Shag is reputed a very ftupid bird ; but in the water, it is re- 

 markably a6live, and is not ftiot in that element without great dif- 

 ficulty, as it fwims with only the head and neck above water, and 

 dives with uncommon celerity the inftant it perceives the flafli of 

 the fowling piece. 



The general tints of the plumage of this bird are dufky, glcffed 

 with alhen green or olive, and the darker parts with a vivid blue, 

 appearing altogether refplendent, as the light falls upon it in various 

 dire6lions. 



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