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THE GREAT CORMORANT. 
large or moderate size, with long, rather full, depressed 
bodies ; long and stout necks ; rather large heads, and bills 
about the same length as the head, straight, rather slender, 
and compressed. 
Species of this genus occur on almost every rocky coast, 
and often on low coasts having trees along the water's edge. 
In searching for food, which consists entirely of fish, they 
seldom go far from land. They swim and dive with ex- 
treme agility, sink in the water when alarmed, have a 
moderately quick low flight, perch on rocks or trees, and 
nestle in both situations. Cormorants never fish by plung- 
ing from on wing ; they generally, in diving, leap out of 
the water in a curve, and descend with great force ; they 
are such voracious feeders that their nama has become 
a synonym for gluttony. 
GREAT CORMORANT. 
The length of the Great Cormorant is about three ft^t ; 
the head, neck, lower parts, middle and hind part of 
the back are greenish black ; the fore part and sides of 
the back, with the wing coverts, are greyish brown ; there 
is a dingy white band on the throat, extending upward to 
the eyes, which are green ; there is a crest on the head, of 
greenish black ; the face and long slender hooked beak is 
yellow. In lonely places on the shore, or a little way out 
