170 M. Sundevall on the Birds of Calcutta, 



attingit. Cauda rigida, gradata. Pedes nigri. Rostrum fuscum, 

 subtus pallidum. Longit. 20 poll. sv. Ala 198 millim., rostrum e 

 fronte 34, tarsus 37, digitus externus cum ungue 62, cauda 143. 



This small Cormorant, the least in the genus, was seen only in 

 the lake near Sucsagor, ten [Swedish] miles north from Calcutta. 

 It lived there in small flocks of from five to seven, and was not 

 particularly shy, though difficult to shoot, for when I approached 

 them they laid all their bodies under water, so that only the head 

 and tip of the tail were seen above the surface. When fired at 

 they dived, and rose again at a distance. The power of floating, 

 in the manner mentioned, motionless in the water, exists also in 

 many of our swimming birds, especially in young ducks, and 

 is difficult to explain, as it seems to imply a specific gravity 

 but little less than that of water, while the position of the bird 

 in the ordinary mode of swimming shows that it is then at least 

 twice as light*. When flying they resemble ducks. They were 

 often seen sitting in trees near the water, or on roots, posts, &c. 

 like those birds, but they were then more shy. The neck is com- 

 monly stretched out at full length. In the stomach they had fish 

 and small Crustacea. 



This and the following species occur in the collection of Baron 

 Gyllenkrok from Java, whence they were brought by Dr. Mel- 

 lerborg. 



93. Plotus melanogaster, Gm., Lath. p. 895 (cum var. h). PI. Le- 

 vaillantii, Temm. PL Col. 380 (cum synonymia extricata). 



Capite coUoque fulvo-griseis, utrinque linea longitudinal! alba ; 

 cauda tota nigra ; plumis scapularibus nigris, linea alba notatis f . 



Senior subtus niger ; junior subtus rufesc.-griseus ( ^ temp, pro- 

 pagationis crinibus laterum colli. Temm.). 



^ (d. 25 Mart, testic. parvis). Plumae nuUse elongatae colli. 

 Corpus totum nigrum, subtus obscurius. Caput et collum ad trun- 

 cum usque fulvescenti-grisea, fusco- punctata ; gula et linea ex an- 

 gulo oris ad medium collum, albse. Linea e medio gutture ad alas 

 fulvescens, nigredinem pectoris limitans. Cauda tota nigra. Alse 

 nigrse ; plumse scapulares longissimse, lineari-acutae, rigidse, linea me- 

 dia alba, tectrices eodem colore, angustae, acutce. Iris griseo-flaves- 

 cens. Rostrum fuscum, subtus flavescens. Pedes sordide virescentes. 

 Longit. 32 poll. Suec. (collum 11, cauda 9). Rostrum 11 millim. 



At the same place with the last species lived three or four of 



• It is probable that in the case alluded to by Prof. Sundevall, the bird 

 increases its specific gravity by ejecting a portion of the air contained in its 

 pneumatic apparatus ; or by partially condensing the air like the Nautilus 

 and Ammonite. — H. E. S. 



\ PL anJiinga, L. ; cauda apice grisescente, capite colloque nigris vel 



friseis, absque linea alba ; plumis scapularibus nigris, macula oblonga alba. 

 Ix America: conf. Temm. loco supra citato. $ temp, propagationis nucha 

 crinita. 



