THE SHAG. 
319 
North Skerries, and commence building somewhat later ; but 
both species keep to the nest almost continuously after the 
first of the four or five eggs has been laid. The birds pair as 
soon as the white feathers begin to appear upon the thighs, 
the distinct white patch becoming fully developed about the 
end of February, and the first eggs are laid towards the middle 
of May. In specimens in full breeding plumage the bill has 
the upper mandible blackish grey, bluish at the tip, and pale 
along the edges ; the lower mandible pale horn colour, becoming 
darker towards the tip, which is nearly black. 
During the years 1869 and 1870 there were two Albino 
Cormorants about the west coast of Unst. It was in vain 
that I offered a reward for them, or for one of them, for they 
were far too wild to allow a near enough approach. As seen 
through the telescope, they were perfectly white, without sj^ot 
or mark of any kind. Even the bill and the feet were light- 
coloured. 
THE SHAG. 
PhcdacTocorax graculus. 
SCAEF — SCART. 
Closely resembling the last species in its general habits, thei e 
are nevertheless a few points of difference sufficiently well 
marked ; as, for example, the constant building of the nest a 
week or so before the Cormorant, and the far less frequent resort 
to fresh water. I have seen it, however, on fresh water near 
Burra Voe in July, and on the Loch of Cliff in January; and 
at the mouth of the burn of Burrafirth I once observed several 
Shags swimming, diving, and catching fish, probably sea- trout. 
I think also that the habit of washing and dipping is somewhat 
unusual with the Shag. The assertion that the Shag will not 
escape by diving, when approached by a boat, is altogether 
erroneous. I remember once coming suddenly upon five Shags 
among the skerries at the south end of Hunie, and having a race 
