CORMORANTS. 477 



and return before night to its master with its pouch distended 

 with fish, a great part of which the savages made it disgorge, 

 leaving it in possession of the remainder as a reward for its 

 service. 



Length nearly 4 feet. The young bird has the bill red, with a 

 black nail. Naked space between the bill and eyes red. The head 

 mottled with ash color and white ; the nape slightly crested. The 

 hind part of the neck covered with soft ash-colored feathers. Back, 

 scapulars, primaries, and wing coverts dusky, edged with dull white. 

 Tail deep ash. Legs dusky-green. 



CORMORANTS. (Phalacrocorax, Briss.) 



In these birds, closely allied to the Pelicans, the bill is of moderate 

 dimensions, straight, and compressed; the upper mandible seamed 

 and rounded above, with the ridge distinct, unguiculated and hooked 

 at the point , the lower somewhat shorter, furnished at base with a 

 small naked membrane produced on the throat. Nostrils in the 

 furrows, basal, linear, scarcely visible. Tongue very short, and ob- 

 tuse, carinated above. Hind head very protuberant; the face and 

 small pouch naked. Feet short and robust : tibia much drawn up 

 into the belly, wholly feathered, tarsus carinated before and behind ; 

 the whole 4 toes connected by a membrane ; webs broad and full ; 

 hind toe half as long as the middle one ; middle nail serrated on the 

 inner edge. Wings moderate, 2d and 3d primaries longest. Tail 

 rounded, of 12 or 14 rigid feathers. 



The sexes alike in their plumage. The young differing greatly 

 from the adult. They moult twice in the year, acquiring additional 

 ornaments in the spring. The plumage thick and close ; its colors 

 black. 



The Cormorants associate in families, near water, and swim with 

 dexterity, with the body deeply immersed, sometimes with the head 

 only exposed ; they dive after their prey with expanded wings, ad- 

 vancing with great velocity, and remaining long submerged ; they 

 also fly well and with rapidity, and are seen perching on branches, or 

 sitting for hours on high and bare rocks, with their wings outspread, 

 as if basking in the air. They walk awkwardly and in an erect 



