CORMORANT. 



101 



feathers, which is a great characteristic distinction of this species from 

 the shag-. 



We have seen twenty or thirty of these birds together : in some the 

 upper parts are dusky, dashed over with ash-colour ; the under parts of 

 the neck and breast light brown ; the belly dirty white ; in others the 

 feathers of the head are a little elongated, forming a short pendant 

 crest, and a patch of white on the thighs. 



This variety of marking is, perhaps, common to the species, with- 

 out any regard to age or sex. We have, however, upon dissection, 

 generally found the females lightest coloured. 



The Cormorant breeds on most of our rocky coasts, sometimes in 

 consort with the shag. We have seen, on the coast of Wales, an in- 

 sulated rock covered with their nests, which are composed of sticks 

 and sea-weed. The eggs are generally three in number, colour white, 

 weight about two ounces. 



It frequently builds on the very summit of the highest rocks of the 

 impending sea, while the shag rarely builds so high. In the winter, 

 the Cormorant is frequently found in fresh-water rivers, at a consider- 

 able distance from the sea. In that season, we have seen eight or ten 

 together far up the river Usk, perched upon a tree. The shag is 

 never observed to quit the neighbourhood of the sea. 



This bird is a great destroyer of fish ; and, by frequent diving, the 

 wings often become so wet as to incapacitate it from flying. It is 

 said that it has been trained, and used for fishing in the manner 

 hawks have been for fowling ; and that, in order to prevent their 

 swallowing the prey, a tight collar was put round the neck. * One of 

 these birds kept by Colonel Montagu, was extremely docile, of a 

 grateful disposition, and by no means of a savage or vindictive spirit. 

 It was surprised under the banks of a rivulet, running into the Bristol 

 Channel, by a Newfoundland dog, and not being in its accustomed 

 plumage, was reported to him as a curious and unknown species. 



Having reached him after a twenty-four hours' journey by coach, 

 every sort of food at hand was offered to it, and rejected ; even raw 

 flesh was unacceptable, and no fish could then be procured : he was, 

 consequently, compelled to cram it with raw flesh, which it took 

 reluctantly, but without offering any offence with its formidable bill. 

 Having retired to the library after seeing it fed, he was surprised, in a 

 few minutes, to see the stranger walk boldly into the room, and join him 

 at the fire side with the utmost familiarity, resuming the task of 

 dressing its feathers, until it was removed to an aquatic menagerie. At 

 the sight of water it became restless, and when liberated, plunged and 

 dived incessantly for a considerable time without obtaining a single 



