NESTS AXD EGGS OF AUSTTiATJAN BIRDS. 973 



Eggn. — Clutcli, three usually ; clliptically inclined in shape ; texture 

 of shell without gloss; colour, bluish or greenish-white, more or less 

 coated with lime. Resemble those of the little Conuorant. Dimen- 

 sions in inches of a clutch : (1) 2 12 x 1-34, (2) 1-98 x 1-31, (3) 1-95 x 1-3. 

 Of a larger sized set : (1) 2-21 x 1-46, (2) 2-2 x 1-42, (3) 2-2 x 1-43. 



Observations. — The Little Black Cormorant, like the large dark 

 species, is foimd in places conducive to its habits throughout the Con- 

 tinent, including Tasmania, where it was first reported by Mr. A. E. 

 Brent, who shot a bird at Houghton, in 1890, and in 1893 saw several 

 more of the same Idnd. 



The bird appears more partial to inland waters of rivers and lagoons 

 tiian to those of the sea. I have observed them somewhat 

 plentiful in the Murray district. It has been foimd breeding in 

 companv with Darters and other Connorants in Lake Moira, New South 

 Wales. In di\'ing for food I have noticed the periods of time a bird 

 remained under water varied from twenty to thirty seconds. 



Mr. W. White informs me that he found the Little Black Cormo- 

 rant nesting on a small island at the entrance of St. Vincent Gulf, 

 in the autumn (May") of 1894. The nests were constmcted of seaweed. 

 Again diuiug our March he observed the same species breeding on stick 

 nests on malee bushes near the mouth of the Murray. 



Usual breeding months, August to December. 



Hundreds of Connorants of different kinds used to roost in the low 

 trees standing in the lagoon near Prince's Bridge, MelboiU'ne, before 

 it was filled for the river improvements in 1898. How regularly the 

 birds used to amve in the evening in small flocks, flying high in the 

 shape of a V, then circling round their camping quarters before settling 

 down ! If the weather were boisterous, they would come in sooner, 

 and they always followed the course of the river, the pied birds being 

 the most distinguishable on account of their white breasts reflecting 

 the rays of the setting sun. 



722. — Phalacrocor.\x gouldi. Salvadori. — (654) 

 P. Jeiirof/n.iter-, Gould. 



WHITE-BREASTED CORMORANT. 



figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vii., pi. 69. 

 Rejerence. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxvi., p. 396. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould : Birds of Australia (1S48) , 

 also Handbook, vol. ii., p. 492 (1865) ; Campbell : Southern 

 Science Record (188?); Legge : Proc. Roy. Soc, Tasmania, 

 p. 133 (1S88) ; North : Austn. Mus. Ca't., p. 366 {18S9) ; 

 Campbell: Victorian Naturalist (1894); Le Souef; Ibis, p. 421 

 (1895). 



Geographical Distribiifion. — Queensland, New South Wales, Vic- 

 toria, South and West ( ') Australia, and Tasmania ; also Louisiade 

 Archijielago. 



