94 CORMORANTS.

FAMILY PHALACROCORACIDAE. CORMORAN’I‘S.

Cormorants are found in all parts of the world. Ten of the thirty known species inhabit North America. As a rule they are maritime, but they also frequent bodies of fresh water far from the seacoast. They are gregarious at all times of the year and breed in large colo- nies. Their flight is strong and ducklike, but, except when migrat- ing, is generally not far above the surface of the water. They secure their food of fish by pursuing it under water, their hooked bill assist- ing them in its capture. Unlike the Gannets, they do not dive from the air, but from the water or a low perch.

119. Phalaacrocom carbo (Lina). CORMORANT; SHAG. (See Fig. 10.) Ad. in breeding plumage—Region about the base of the lower man— dible white or whitish; head, upper neck, and throat glossy black, thickly sprinkled with white; rest or the neck, under parts, and rump glossy black; 3 white patch on the flanks; upper back, scapulars, and wing—coverts light olive-brown, each feather bordered by glossy black; tail black, composed of fourteen feathers. Ad. in winter.—Similar, but without white on the head. [rm—Top of the head and hind neck brownish black ; upper back, scapulars, and wing—coverts grayish brown, the feathers bordered by blackish; rump glossy black: throat and breast grayish brown, changing to white on the belly; sides and under tail—covcrts glossy black. L., 3600; W., 14-00; T., 7'00; B., 3-00. '

Range.—“ Coasts of the North Atlantic, south in winter on the coast of the United States casually to the Carolinas” (A. 0. U.). Breeds from the Bay of Fundy to northern Greenland.

Long Island, regular T. V. in limited numbers.

Nest, of sticks and seaweed, in colonies generally on the ledges of rocky cliffs. Eggs, four to six, pale bluish white, more or less overlaid with a chalky deposit, 2'50 x 1'50.

This northern species is of uncommon occurrence on our coast south of its breeding range.

120. Phalanx-acorn: dilophus (Sw. and Rich). DOUBLE-CRESTED Cormorant Ad. in breeding plumage—Head, neck, rump, and under parts- glossy black; upper back, scapulars, and wing—coverts light grayish brown, each feather margined with glossy black ; tail black, composed of twelve/euth- 6H? ,' a tuft of black feathers on either side of the head. Ad. in winter.— Similar, but Without tufts on the head. Im.—Top of the head and back of the neck blackish brown ; upper back, seapulars, and wing—ccverts brownish gray, each feather margined with black; rump glossy black; sides of the head and fore neck grayish white, whiter on the breast and changing gradu— ally to black on the lower belly. L., 3000; W., 1250; ’1‘., 6-20; B., 230.

Range—Eastern North America. breeding from Dakota, and the Bay of Fundy northward; winters from southern Illinois and Virginia southward.

Washington, casual, several records. Long Island, commdn T. V., Apl.