488 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



AFRICAN SHAG. 



(Phalacrocorax africanus,Dv uo^T. Bonap. Synops. No. 357. Peh' 

 canus ufricanus, Gmel. Lath. Ind. ii. p. 890. sp. 24. Sparman, 

 Mus. Carls, fascic. iii. tab. 61. [a good figure,]) 



Sp. Charact. — Bill 2 inches long, longer than the head ; tail long, 

 rounded, composed of 12 feathers ; scapulars long, subulate. The 

 size very small. — ^dult black, slightly glossed with green; throat 

 white. Young blackish, beneath whitish. 



This hitherto rare species, given on the authority of the 

 Prince of Musignano, inhabits both continents. It has 

 been found by Sparman at the Cape of Good Hope. I am 

 assured by Mr. Audubon also, that he has seen it in the 

 United States. 



The African Shag is only about 20 inches in length. The upper 

 mandible of the bill is brown-black, the remainder of it dull yellow- 

 ish-white. The head and neck brownish-black. Middle of the back 

 and rump glossy black. Scapulars and wing coverts ash grey, each 

 feather margined all round and tipped with black. The 3 first quills 

 pale brown, inclining to cinnamon, the rest brown-black ; seconda- 

 ries as long as the quills, of a dusky black, edged with brown. Tail 

 of 12 feathers, wedge-shaped, the 2 middle ones 7 inches long, the 

 outer only 3^ inches ; the 4 middle ones and the outer on each side 

 pale brown, the rest black. Chin white Fore part of the neck mot- 

 tled with dusky white and black ; belly much the same, with a mix- 

 ture of brown. Legs black. 



Note. Mr. Audubon, by letter, mentions a new species as he be- 

 lieves, and which he will in due time publish, which breeds on the 

 flat portions of Rocky Islands, (in Labrador ?) raising a nest of 

 weeds, sticks, &c. from one to three feet in length. 



