SHAGS AND EELS
Shags, through disuse, have lost the use of their nostrils, and have developed a wonderful system by which they are able to supply themselves with air"while under water, stated Air. .J'F Stead in a recent address in Christchurch. Shags, he said, have developed five pairs of air sacks in thoii bodies, as well as lungs, and their wing bones, boiwr hollow, also serve as air reservoirs. The birds thus are able to remain under water for as much as a minute at a time. Anothei interesting point about the shag is that all its four toes afj&vebbed, instead of only three as in otner water birds. " It has been said that shags are enemies of the fisherman," Mr. Stead continued, but thov are moro the- enemies of the enemies of the fisherman—eels. Shags, admittedly, take a few trout, but a big item in their diet- is eel.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21859, 23 July 1934, Page 7
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150SHAGS AND EELS New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21859, 23 July 1934, Page 7
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