214 ALLENS naturalist’s LIBRARV. 
species of Cormorant inhabiting the African continent has 
been considered to be different from P. carlo, and it is difficult 
to say what is the exact range of our Cormorant to the south- 
ward. It occurs in Arctic America on the Atlantic side, and 
ranges in winter as for south as New Jersey, but has not been 
recorded from the Pacific side of North America. 
Habits. — The Cormorant is in most parts of England a sea- 
bird, frequently the rocky coasts and building its nest on the 
rocks, but in many places it builds on trees, in company. In 
other parts of its range it has been known to build its nest in 
reed-beds, and in pollard willows, while sometimes a colony 
of Cormorants will be found to occupy quite high trees, like 
Herons. 
The food consists entirely of fish, of which the bird devours 
a great number, and the decaying carcases are plentifully 
strewn about the nesting-places, so that a visit to a Cormo- 
rant’s home is generally trying to the olfactory sense. The 
mess which the birds make is also rather appalling, the 
whole of the rocks on which they breed having generally 
the appearance of having been whitewashed. On land the 
Cormorant is rather a sluggish bird, and is generally seen 
perched on a rock, where it will remain for hours digesting its 
food ; but in the water it is a splendid swimmer and diver, 
employing its great webbed feet to singular advantage, and 
using its stiffened tail as a rudder to steer itself with, but 
not making much use of its wings. Although generally nest- 
ing in company, at other times of the year Cormorants are 
found on inland rivers, and many are thus obtained during the 
winter, most of these individuals being young birds, though 
old ones not unfrequently occur One which was shot near 
Cookham, when I was a boy, was observed for several days 
swimming in the Thames, with its body submerged and only 
its head .nd neck protruding out of the water. 
Nest A very rough structure of seaweed or sticks, which is 
added to year by year in places where the birds are allowed 
to nest without interference. The Cormorant seems to have 
some idea of decorating its nest, for Mr. Doncaster informed 
Mr. Seebohm that he found one in which the birds had pulled 
a long spike of foxglove and had twisted it round the nest as 
