242 GREEN-CRESTED CORMORANT. 
and a boat, stationed at the entrance, but out of 
sight, may sometimes procure shots at the disturbed 
birds flying out, although they more frequently 
dive into the water of the cave, and swim under 
until far past the entrance. Some recesses on the 
Kirkcudbright coast, frequented by these birds, have 
the name of the “ Doulcers’ Bing." The Cormorants 
have the practice, after fishing, and having satisfied 
themselves, of alighting in rows on some sand-bank 
or rock, and resting with their wings held out as 
if to dry. 4Ve have frequently observed from five 
to twenty thus at rest on the low banks, with 
which the Solway Firth is so fatally interspersed, 
and in particular states of the atmosphere, they ap- 
pear of large size, almost like human beings, in 
search of shell-fish. We do not trace the range of 
the Crested Cormorant satisfactorily. Northern 
Europe and North-eastern Asia are the probable 
localities. Birds which we have received from 
Southern Africa, resembling this, appear to be dif- 
ferent, although Mr. Yarrell gives that country to 
it, on the authority of Dr. Smith. 
This very beautiful bird, in the full breeding 
state, has the general colour of the plumage of a 
rich blackish green ; on the head, neck and under- 
parts, of a silky texture ; on the back and wings of 
a deeper tint, and having there each feather banded 
at the tip with velvet black ; the quills and tail (the 
latter consisting of twelve feathers) are nearly with- 
out lustre, and of a uniform hlaclc ; in this state, the 
head is adorned with a transverse crest of broad 
