CORMORANT. 35 1 



they are elongated, rough and chalky white, but blue if the outer 

 covering flakes off. The young are at first naked, blind slate- 

 grey little monsters, which squeak as they plunge their bills 

 into their parents' mouths to obtain half-digested food. The 

 down which grows in about a fortnight is woolly and sooty, the 

 bills are flesh-colour and the limp feet brown. 



The adult is black, glossed purple and green ; the elongated 

 feathers of the nape form a ragged mane. The mantle is 

 bronze-brown with dark margins forming a network pattern. 

 The lower face and chin is white. From February until about 

 July the nuptial dress consists of white filaments sprinkled over 

 the head and neck, and silky white patches on the thighs. 

 The bill is horn, yellower at the base, and the bare skin 

 surrounding it and gular pouch are chrome yellow. The legs 

 are blue-black, the irides emerald green. In the brown first 

 plumage the dull white under parts are mottled and the irides 

 are brown ; this changes gradually and after the autumn moult 

 shows some gloss, whilst the chin, neck and gular pouch are 

 dirty white. Later the brown tips wear off, leaving the breast 

 streaked and the belly almost white until mature plumage is 

 attained. After the second autumn moult the bare skin shows 

 yellow, and the irides turn from bluish white to green. 



The immature plumages are either irregular or not fully 

 understood, and are complicated by the frequent occurrence of 

 a white-breasted phase, in which dress the bird has been known 

 to breed. Mr. Bolam considers that in some birds the under 

 parts become whiter " during the second and subsequent 

 years " until the black dress is assumed. Mr. Frohawk noticed 

 these white-breasted, apparently adult birds in the Sciily Isles, 

 and Mr. Bolam off the Northumberland coast ; I have seen them 

 in Devon and off Holy Island. Length, about 36 ins. Wing, 

 1475 ins. Tarsus, 2*8 ins. 



