. Birds of Britain . the parents is rather a sedentary bird, spending much of its time onrocks just above high-water mark; in diving it movesalmost entirely by means of its feet, the wings being keptclosely folded to its side. When searching for food itplaces its head under water, and on sighting a fish divesunder with scarcely a ripple; on being captured the victimis brought to the surface and swallowed head first, and thesearch for another is recommenced. Having satisfied hishunger he mounts a rock and stands there erect, dryinghimself in the wind with outstretched wings, for in spit
. Birds of Britain . the parents is rather a sedentary bird, spending much of its time onrocks just above high-water mark; in diving it movesalmost entirely by means of its feet, the wings being keptclosely folded to its side. When searching for food itplaces its head under water, and on sighting a fish divesunder with scarcely a ripple; on being captured the victimis brought to the surface and swallowed head first, and thesearch for another is recommenced. Having satisfied hishunger he mounts a rock and stands there erect, dryinghimself in the wind with outstretched wings, for in spite oftheir diving habits the feathers of these birds have verylittle power of resisting water, and after a prolonged im-mersion become quite saturated. It flies well and stronglywith the head and neck outstretched in front and looksnot unlike a Duck. In some places it nests inland nearlarge lakes, and in such localities the nest is placed on trees. 220 SHAG Phalacrocorax graculus Adult in breeding dress. Young on sea. The Cormorant The adult is of a deep glossy greenish black, which be-comes more bronze in tint on the mantle. Many of thefeathers on the head and neck are white, and there is awhite patch on the thighs which is assumed during thewinter and lost in May. The young are brownish andlack the gloss of the old birds; the under parts are become adult in about three years. Length 36 in.;wing 14 in. THE SHAG Phalacrocorax graculus, Llnnzeus The Shag is widely distributed round our coasts,especially those rocky portions abounding in caves, on theledges of which it breeds. It is a smaller and more localspecies than the last, and is never found breeding inland andrarely in colonies. In all other ways it is a counterpart ofits larger congener, with which it is often confounded bylocal fishermen. During the breeding season it is rather noisy, the notebeing a harsh kraik, kraik. The adult is of a uniform glossy bronze green and wearsfor a short time in spring an uprig
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