GRACULIDiE. 863 



probably does so, as I have killed it at all seasons. Most of the 

 specimens procured are in imperfect plumage, having the lower 

 parts white*. Like the last, it is generally met with in pairs or 

 alone, occasionally in small flocks. 



This is supposed to be the species of Cormorant used by the 

 Chinese to catch fish. They are caught when young and trained. 

 A line is attached to them, and they are put over the sides of the 

 boat, and as soon as they have taken a fish are hauled in again, and 

 the fish taken from them. They are prevented from swallowing 

 their prey by a ring placed round their necks. 



The only other species of Cormorant found in India is placed 

 by Bonaparte under Halicsus, characterized by their small size, 

 short bill, having a small nude gular region divided by a strip of 

 feathers, and the tail somewhat long, of 12 feathers. 



1007. Graculus Javanicus, Horsf. 



Carbo apud Hoesfield— Blyth, Cat. 1748— Jerdon, Cat. 

 394— C. melanognathus, Brandt— Ph. niger, Vieillot, apud 

 Bonaparte — P. pygmceus, Pallas, of some — Stkes, Cat. 227 

 — Hardwicke, 111. Ind. Zool. ^\.—Pan-howa, H.— Jograbi, of 

 some falconers — Niru-kaki, or Niru-kodi, Tel. 

 The Little Cormorant. 



Descr.—Jn winter the plumage is more or less black, the feathers 

 brown-edged on the neck, breast, and back, and the chin white. 

 In full breeding plumage, in June or July, the whole body is glossy 

 black ; the head with a short occipital crest ; the wing-coverts, 

 scapulars, secondaries and tertiaries, as it were glossed with 

 silvery, with a black margin, and the interscapulars with a narrow 

 silvery centre ; a Avhite triangular spot on the top of the head ; 

 lores white, and a broad line through the eyes with white hairs, 

 and several also on the nape and sides of the neck ; chin 

 black. 



Bill brown, livid purple in the height of the breeding season ; 

 gular skin and orbits blackish, livid in summer ; legs blackish, dusky 

 livid at the same season. Length 19 to 20 inches; extent 32; 

 wing 8^ ; tail 5^ to 6 ; bill at front 1^ ; tarsus 1| ; middletoe 2. 



