PECULIAR HABITS. 
269 
in the water, this bird may be seen perched on rocks, or 
sitting on the ledges of mural cliffs, watching for fish. 
Macgillivray says that — 
The Great Cormorant occurs in considerable numbers here and 
there on all our rocky coasts, frequenting bold headlands, high cliffs, 
and insular crags. It generally keeps apart from the crested Cor- 
morant, and when the two species occur in the same locality, 
assumes a more elevated station, the other betaking itself to the 
caves, or perching on the lower shelves. At certain states of the 
tide — chiefly, I think, about low water, and not at any particular 
time of the day, for I have observed them early in the morning, at 
noon, and in the evening — the Cormorants may be seen standing 
lazily on the rocks, some with outspread wings, as if sunning them- 
selves, or drying their plumage ; others reposing, with the head under 
one of their wings, or directed forwards on their retracted neck. 
Should a boat approach them, they soon become alarmed, raise one 
foot after the other, and throw their long necks about in a singular 
manner, straining themselves to perceive the intruders ; their sight 
being apparently not very clear in the open air, however penetrating 
in the water. I have thought it very remarkable that they will allow 
a vessel propelled by steam to pass much nearer than an ordinary 
boat, without removing ; but this is equally the case with many other 
sea-birds. When fairly alarmed, they take to wing, launching in a 
curved line, and then flying low over the water, with a moderately 
quick, sedate, and even flight, usually in silence. Sometimes, how- 
ever, they plunge headlong into the water, and emerge at a great 
distance. I have never seen them alight on land anywhere but on 
rock, and there, besides being restrained by the nature of the place, 
their motions are awkward, they not being at all fitted for walking. 
On the sea they alight heavily, and sit deep in the water, having the 
faculty, when apprehensive of danger, of sinking still deeper, so as to 
leave little exposed to view. They swim with surprising speed, often 
immerse their bill, and even the whole head as they proceed, and 
dive with extreme agility, with a sudden dart, and without opening 
their wings until they are under the surface, but then using them, as 
weU as their feet, to propel themselves. In rising from the water 
into the air, they advance several yards, flapping the sea with their 
wings and feet, before they obtain a free course. Their food consists 
of small fishes, up to the size of a herring. On seizing their prey, 
they come to the surface, toss their head until the fish assumes a 
proper position, and swallow it head foremost; or occasionally toss 
it up in the air, and seize it again with open throat. Should it be 
too large to be swallowed, they beat and tear it with their biU, 
sometimes returning on shore for the purpose. 
The Shag, as the Crested, or Green Cormorant, is very 
oflen called, may be at once distinguished from the species 
