PHALACROCORACID*:— THE CORMORANTS. 205 



keep the two supposed forms separate until more satisfactory 

 material can be compared. 



According to Audubon, there is a difference in the coloration 

 of the unfeathered parts of the head, in the breeding season, 

 the Florida Cormorant having the basal margins of the upper 

 mandible bright blue, the lower mandible bright blue "curiously 

 spotted with white," and the margins of the eyelids light blue 

 spotted with white. But as the Cormorants which I shot at 

 Pyramid Lake, Nevada, in May were thus marked with blue, 

 while those shot at Mt. Carmel, Illinois, in the spring were 

 similarly marked, it is probable that the blue eyelids, etc., are 

 characteristic of the nuptial season, and common 1 to all the 

 geographical forms of the species. 



The Florida Cormorant, or at least specimens of G. dilopkus 

 in no wise distinguishable from birds of the same species 

 breeding in Florida, is common in early spring on the Wabash 

 River as far north as Mt. Carmel, and no doubt occurs along- 

 other rivers in the southern portion of the State. While I have 

 never actually found it breeding there, I have no doubt that it 

 does so. 



Phalacrocorax mexicanus (Brandt). 



MEXICAN CORMORANT. 



Popular synonym. Sargento (Mexico). 



Carbo mexicanus Beandt, Bull. Sc. Acad. £t. Petersb. iii, 1838, 55.— Gundl. Rep. Fis.-Nat. 



Cuba, i. 1866, 395; J. f . 0. 1875, 401 (Cuba). 

 Kraculits mexicanus Bonap. Consp. ii, 1856, 173.— Coues, Key, 1872, 203; Check List, 1873, 



No. 531 ; B. N. W. 1874, 588— Snow, Cat. B. Kans. 1873, 12 (Lawrence, Kansas).— Ridow. 



Bull. Nutt. Orn. CI. v, 1880, 31 (Cairo, Illinois). 

 Phalacrocorax mexicanus Brewer, Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H. vii, 1860, 308 (Cuba).— Scl. & 



Salv. Nora. Neotr. 1873. 121.— Ridgw. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 614; Man. N. Am. B. 



1887, 79.— Coues, 2d Check List, 1882. No. 754.-B. B. & R. Water B. X. Am. ii. 1S84, 155.- 



A. O. U. Check List, 1886, No. 121— Cory, B. W. 1. 1889, 272, (Cuba). 



rocorax resplendens Lemb. Aves de Cuba, 1850, 119 (= adult; nee Audubon). 

 Phalacrocorax townsendii Lemb. Aves do Cuba, 1850,120 [= young; nee Audubon). 



Hab. Central America, Mexico, Cuba, and southern United States, north in the Missis- 

 sippi Valley to Kansas and southern Illinois; south to Costa Rica. 



Sp. Char. The smallest American species of the genus. Tail-foathers 12. Bill mod- 

 erately robust, the unguis ar.-hed and strongly hooked, the eulmen slightly concave in the 

 middle portion and gently ascending at th" base. Bare skin of face extending farthest 

 back on side of hoad. forming quite an angle behind the riotus; feathers of the ihroat ad- 

 rancing forward on the median line, tho apex sometimes divided or indented by a slight 

 intrusion of tho naked skin of the gular pouch. Scapular-; and wlng-ooverts narrow and 

 tapering, almost pointed. 



