152 



TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS — STEGANOPODES. 



in Pacific coast examples ; specimens from the interior of the continent having the tufts mixed 

 black and white. The question of whether a subspecies floridanus should be recognized involves 

 the expediency of recognizing a fonith race in the resident bird of the Californian (including the 

 Lower Californian) coast, which differs I'roni the true P. cincinnatus of the northern Pacific coast 

 in exactly the same characters that distinguish the so-called floridanus from dilojjhus proper ; 

 i. e., in smaller size, with relatively weaker bill, the difi'erence in the two cases being apparently 

 greater in the case of the western forms. Regarding the small Californian bird with white crests 

 as being much more entitled to recognition as a race than floridanus, Mr. Ridgway has already 

 separated it as such under the name of albociliatus. 



The following measurements of specimens from various localities will convey an idea of the 

 geographical variation in size in this species : — 



a. Five specimens from Nortlieastem North America. 



Wing. Tail. Culmen. 



Maximum, 12.90 7.50 2.45 



Average, 12.46 7.15 2.36 



Miuiinum, 12.20 6.50 2.10 



c. Six specimens frovi Southern Illinois and Iowa. 



Wing. Tail. Culmen. 



Maximum, 13.00 8.00 2.35 



Average, 12.34 7.29 2.10 



Minimum, 12.00 7.00 2.00 



e. Twelve specimens from coaM of California and 

 Lower California. 



Maximum, 



Average, 



Minimum, 



h. Ten specimens from Florida. 

 Wing. Tail. 



Maximum, 12.50 7.75 



11.77 7.00 



Average, 



Minimum, 11.20 



6.50 



Culmen. 

 2.40 

 2.17 

 2.00 



d. Two specimens from Great Salt Lake, Utah. 

 Wing. Tail. Culmen. 



Maximum, 12.60 7.50 2.20 



Average, 12.55 7.37 2.17 



Minimum, 12.50 



7.25 



2.15 



/. Seven specimens from Northwest coast (including 

 one each from Nevada and Oregon). 



The above figures would of course be somewhat changed were an equal number of specimens 

 from each region measured. The general result, however, would in all probability be the same, 

 showing a gradual diminution in size to the southward. 



The Double-crested Cormorant is an exclusively ISTorth American species ; it is 

 found both on the Atlantic and on the Pacific coast, and is also not uncommon on our 

 inland waters ; dilfering essentially in this respect from the carho. Mr. Bernard Eoss 

 met with it in the neighborhood of Great Slave Lake, where he saw^ no other form 

 of Cormorant. Two examples were obtained at Sitka by Mr. Bischoff. It was also 

 found on Vancouver Island by Mr. R. Browne. It is an unsuspicious species, and 

 may be easily approached and shot. 



Dr. Cooper describes this species as common along the Pacific coast ; and, as he also 

 states, he has met with it on the Colorado, in small numbers, in winter — although, 

 like all other fishing birds, the Cormorant inclines to avoid that river, on account of the 

 muddiness of its waters. This bird is said to be a permanent resident along the 

 whole of the Pacific coast; and north of the Columbia River it is found on clear 



