206 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Adult, nuptial plumage. Feathers bordering the gular sac white, forming a more or 

 less distinct transverse line, reaching upward nearly or quite to the eye. Head, neck, 

 rump, and entire lower parts silky brownish black, with a very faint purplish brown gloss 

 in certain lights; ba:k, scapulars, and wing-coverts dark brownish slaty, each feather nar- 

 rowly bordered with black; primaries slate-black. Tail uniform deep bla k, including the 

 shafts. Superciliary region, sides of neck, and anal region, ornamented by scattering nar- 

 row filamentous white feathers. Bill (in skin) light- colored, mottled with daiker, the cul- 

 men dusky; gular sac brownish (dull orange-red in life?); iris green; legs and feet deep 

 black. 



Adult, post-nuptial and winter plumage. Similar to the nuptial plumage, but lacking 

 the white filamentous feathers of head, neck, etc. 



Young, first plumage. Head, neck and under parts grayish brown, becoming gradu- 

 ally darker (nearly black) on the hind neck, sides, flanks, anal region and under tail-coverts* 

 and whitish on upper part of throat (next to gular pouch); upper parts as in the adult. 

 "Iris green; bill dark fleshy, culmen and upper part of lower mandible dusky; gular sac 

 brownish: feet deep black." (Sumicheast. U. S.) 



Young, in winter. Similar to first plumage, but throat, foreneck, chest, and breast 

 much lighter colored— sometimes almost white. 



Total length, about 23.00-28.75 inches; extent, 38.00-42.75; wing, 9.95-10.40; tail, 6.75-8.30; 

 culmen, 1.70-2.00; tarsus, 1.85-2.10; middle toe, 2.15-2.85. 



The Mexican Cormorant is said to be a common resident 

 along the coast of Texas, and doubtless also breeds in portions 

 of the lower Mississippi Valley, specimens having been taken 

 in April near Lawrence and in Mitchell Co., Kansas, and near 

 Cairo, Illinois.* 



Its habits are said to be essentially the same as those of the 

 Florida Cormorant, with which it doubtless may easily be con- 

 founded when seen at a little distance. 



* Fide Chas. K. Wobthen; see Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, Jan. 1886, p. 31. 



