PHALACROCORACID^ — THE CORMORANTS — PHALACROCORAX. 153 



inland waters. It nests on the steep ridges and cliffs of the islands, and occasionally 

 on the main shores. The nests are composed entirely of sticks, neatly piled up in a 

 conical form, about one foot high, with a depression in the middle. The eggs are 

 said to be three or four in number, and to have an average measurement of 2.25 inches 

 in length by 1.40 in breadth. They are of a greenish-white color, with more or less 

 of calcareous incrustations. The birds lay from the first of May to July ; and if they 

 are robbed they will lay several times. The eggs have a very strong and disagreeable 

 flavor, and they cannot be made to coagulate by boiling ; yet, as Dr. CooiDcr states, 

 there are persons who can eat them. 



Like the common Black Cormorant, this bird lives entirely on fish, which it catches 

 by pursuing tliem iinder the water, diving only from the surface, and never when fly- 

 ing. Its power of swimming is very great, and it can remain under the water for a 

 long time, so that when only wounded its pursuit in a boat is useless. Individuals 

 of this species occasionally seem to prefer inland waters during the summer, while 

 others breed on the islands at sea and along the large rivers. They may often be 

 seen sitting on snags or on rocks ; but are so shy that they cannot be approached in a 

 boat, although in flying they often pass very near the hunter, and thus afford an 

 opportunity for a shot. In winter they associate in small numbers with the more 

 marine species. This seems to be an altogether silent species. In flying it proceeds 

 by constant and laborious flappings, and moves with great rapidity. Occasionally it 

 sails for a short distance. 



Mr. Henshaw states that it nests on the Farallon Islands and upon the Santa 

 Barbara Group ; and that it is common along the coast and on the interior waters. 

 Mr. Hepburn also states that it breeds along the Sacramento River, where in the 

 spring he found these birds already having their peculiar crests. 



Mr. J. A. Allen mentions meeting with this species in considerable numbers in 

 the valley of Great Salt Lake, Avhere it bears the singular name of Black Brant. It 

 also occurs in small numbers, in the spring and fall, in the vicinity of Lake Kosko- 

 nong, in Southern Wisconsin, where a few mature specimens have been obtained by 

 Professor Kumlien, who informs me that this has of late years been found to be 

 by no means an uncommon bird in that region. It is met with there only in the 

 spring, collecting, about sunset at that time of the year, in a grove of dead trees, at 

 the mouth of Koskonong Creek, as well as at other points near the lake, where, at the 

 present time, the larger trees have been killed by the unusual prevalence of high 

 water. When Mr. Kumlien first came to that region these trees were living, and 

 these birds either did not frequent that locality in such large numbers as now, or 

 their presence was not noticed. 



Major Wedderburn mentions the taking of two examples of this species on 

 Bermuda : one was shot in October, 1847 ; the other in February, 1848. 



This is a common bird in the spring and fall in the neighborhood of Calais and in 

 all parts of the Bay of Fundy ; it also visits the sea-coast of the United States as 

 far south as Maryland, and is believed once to have been resident on the northern 

 shores of Massachusetts, but long since to have been driven away. 



Audubon states that he saw it breeding on the Seal Islands, off the Bay of Fundy, 

 and that it was also found by his son nesting on a low flat island a few miles from 

 the entrance of the harbor of Wapitaguan, where some of the nests contained eggs, 

 the others young of all sizes. oSTone of the latter attempted to gain the water, but 

 they all hid themselves in the fissures of the rocks. The nests were formed of a few 

 sticks, together vnth. seaweeds, moss, and clods of earth. These were piled in a solid 

 mass three feet high, and having a diameter of from fifteen to eighteen inches at the 



VOL. ir. — 20 



