JAN., 1909. BIRDS OF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN CORY. 311 



33. Phalacrocorax vigua mexicanus (BRANDT). 



MEXICAN CORMORANT. 

 Phalacrocorax mexicanus (Brandt), A. O. U. Check List, 1895, 



P- 43- 



Distr.: Central America and the West Indies to southern United 

 States, casual or accidental north to Kansas and southern Illinois. 



Special characters, adult: Smaller than the preceding species. In 

 the adult breeding plumage the Mexican Cormorant may be dis- 

 tinguished by the narrow edging of white feathers bordering the 

 brownish yellow gular sac, and also by the lack of any definite tufts 

 on the head, which are replaced by long, filamentous white feathers, 

 and in winter by its small size. 



Length, about 25; wing, 10 to 10.60; bill, 1.70 to 2. 



The Mexican Cormorant is probably of accidental occurrence in. 

 the extreme southern portion of Illinois. It is easily recognized by 

 its small size (the wing being always less than 10.50 inches) and the 

 white line bordering the base of the gular pouch. 



"A very common resident along the coast of Texas, occurs in the 

 Mississippi Valley as far north as southern Illinois and Kansas." 

 (W. W. Cooke, p. 59.) "Mr. Worthen reports that last spring he 

 received a skin of this species labelled 'Near Cairo, Illinois.' It was 

 in summer (not adult) plumage. He was not able to trace the speci- 

 men, so there is room for doubt as to the locality." (Ridgway, Bull. 

 Nutt. Orn. Club, Jan., 1880, p. 13.) 



Family PELECANID^. Pelicans. 



j 



Pelicans are large birds, frequenting the warmer portions of the 

 world. Of the twelve known species, three occur in North America 

 and two of these in eastern United States. 



They are gregarious, usually nesting in large colonies. Their 

 food consists almost entirely of fish, which they capture with great 

 dexterity. The White Pelicans scoop up their food while swimming, 

 but the Brown Pelican will often dive headlong into the water, while 

 on the wing, sometimes disappearing entirely beneath the surface. 



