Congdon—Sashatchewan Birds. 
579 
eggs were found on June 8, and fresh, eggs were also taken June 
20 and July 2. Young of the Black Tern were observed flying, 
on July 26. Frequently one can see two or three of the young, 
resting on broken down rushes or floating debris, while the parent 
birds fly about near at hand, searching for food to bring to tbeir 
infants. If one approaches' the spot, the parent birds make a 
great fuss as if fearing for the welfare of the young; but when 
closely approached, the young birds take to wing and join in the 
cries of the old birds as if to show that they are well able to look 
out for themselves. 
120. Double-Chested Cormorant. 
Phalacrocorax dilophus (Swains.). 
The Double-crested Cormorant was found in considerable 
numbers in suitable places throughout this region. It was gen¬ 
erally observed about the shores of the larger, more open lakes, 
perched on the limbs of dead trees, or on rocks near the water’s 
edge. When approached, it usually takes to- wing, alighting in 
the water a short distance from the shore. The Crow-duck, as 
it is called by the natives, is very much like the Loon in shape, 
and is a good diver. It frequently flies a considerable distance 
from one body of water to another, in its search for food, which 
consists mainly of fish. 
At Crooked Lake the birds were seen in considerable numbers, 
but a search failed to reveal their nests. At Basin Lake, how¬ 
ever, better success was met with, for at that place, some thirty 
or more nests were found in a colony on the lake shore. Their 
choice of a nesting place was somewhat peculiar. Most of the 
lake is bordered by timber which reaches to the water’s edge, and 
in many places extends out into the water for some distance. 
Picture, if you can, a slashing of dead timber, standing in water 
six or eight feet deep, many of the trees fallen, with their 
branches just above the surface; others half fallen, with their 
trunks crossing and resting on other fallen or standing trees. It 
was such a tangle, almost impenetrable, that the Cbrmorants had 
chosen as the site of their rookery. Here the nests were built, 
placed in the low branches or on the slanting tree-trunks when a 
crossed trunk or a projecting limb afforded a sufficient support. 
The nests were situated at a height of from three to nine feet 
above the surface of the water. The place could be reached only 
