These birds are found in every part of the globe, giving the preference, however, to tropical countries; still they are plentiful in the Hebrides, in Norway, Scotland, and are even found as far north as Kamtschatka and the Gulf of Bothnia, according to Acerbi. But when residents of high latitudes, they migrate southward on the approach of cold weather. In the winter season they frequent the coast of Cornwall, and are found, in fact, in every part of the British and Irish Channel, generally keeping out at sea. They are constant attendants on the large quantities of herrings and pilchards that frequent our coast late in autumn. This bird takes its prey by darting down on it with great velocity; yet it does not appear to dive--swimming, it floats upon the water with the buoyancy of a gull, not submerged, as is the case with the Shag and Cormorant. Three species of them are known: the Solan Goose, or Gannet (_Sula Bassan_), which is very common on the Bass Rock, a small islet in the Firth of Forth, and on the northern islands--this is the only European species; the Common Gannet (_Sula dactylatra_), vulgarly called "Mouche de Velours"--this is smaller than the preceding, and is found in the Island of Ascension; the Brown Gannet (_Sula fusca_), which inhabits South America. THE CORMORANT (_Phalacrocorax_). ENGLISH SYNONYMS.--Cormorant: Willoughby, Albin, Montagu. Great Cormorant: Bewick, Yarrell. Crested Cormorant: Bewick. Cormorant: Shaw, Latham, Lewin, Walcot, Pultney. Provincial: Great Black Cormorant, Cole Goose, Skart, Green Cormorant, Norie. LATIN SYNONYMS.--_Carbo carboranus_: Meyer. _Pelicanus carbo_: Linn., Latham, Gwellin. _Corvus aquaticus_: Ray, Willoughby. _Phalacrocorax_: Brisson, Temminck, Cuvier, Bonaparte. _Halicus_: Illiger. _Hydrocorax_: Vieillot. The Cormorant is distinguished by a bill straight and compressed, the upper mandible curving downwards, and forming a hook at the termination; lower mandible inserted in a small membrane extending under the throat; feet strong, short; toes three before and one behind, united by a membrane; nail of the middle toe serrated; wings moderate, the first quill longer than the second, the whole being blackish; the upper part of the back and wings ashy brown, or bronzed in the middle, bordered by a large band of glossy greenish black. The Common Cormorant (Fig. 104) has a massive and rather awkward body, feet short and drawn back to the abdomen, the head flattened and small, the guttural pouch very small. Their bulk varies, according to the species, from the size of a Goose to that of a Teal. On the south coast of England they are large birds, Pennant having weighed one which exceeded seven pounds, and measured three feet four inches. Their blackish plumage has given the idea of some resemblance existing between them and the Crow; hence their name, "Cormorant," from _Corvus vorans_, which signifies a voracious Crow. [Illustration: Fig. 104.--Cormorant (_Phalacrocorax carbo_, Gould).]