Mr. R. Swinhoe on Amor/ Ornithology. 395 



Amoy; for iu the first week in January 1867 my hunter 

 brought me a fine male specimen with the red spot. I have 

 not observed it so far south before. 



The hunter also produced the skins of two green Shags differ- 

 ing greatly in size, but evidently of one species, of which, I 

 think, I procured at Amoy many years ago a small specimen. 

 This was destroyed on its way to England, and I therefore could 

 not satisfactorily determine the species. I referred it subse- 

 quently to Phalacrocorax bicristatus, Pall. (P. Z. S. 1863, p. 325). 

 The birds now in hand would appear to have their nearest ally 

 in P. sulcirostris, Brandt ^6?e Bonaparte (Consp. Av. ii. p. 178), 

 having parallel sulci along the culmen of the bill ; but our speci- 

 mens have unfortunately no crest or nuptial markings to lead to 

 a certainty of their identity. They differ from the description 

 in having extremely fine green and purple reflexions, especially 

 on the neck and rump. The latter in most lights is of a fine 

 metallic green. It is possible they may be the " Carbo sulci- 

 rostris, Temm. ex Borneo," which Bonaparte does not describe. 

 I will, however, for my own satisfaction support the description 

 that follows with the name 



Phalacrocorax ^olus, sp. nov. 



The larger skin I take to be that of a male. From it I should 

 judge the length of the bird to be about 28 inches; wing 11*25 

 in. ; tail 7 inches, of twelve stiff" graduated and narrow feathers, 

 the outer ones 2 inches shorter than the middle. Bill sulcated 

 along either side of the culmen to the nail at tip. The lines of 

 culmen and gonys nearly straight. Bill narrow and black ; 

 length from forehead to tip 1*8 in., from gape 3 in., depth about 

 •4' in. Skin round eye, below it, and at base of crura bare, 

 rugose, and black, the feathers advancing in an acute angle well 

 up the intercrural pouch. Legs and toes purplish-black, the 

 comb of middle toe brown. Tarse 2*1 in., outer toe and nail 

 3'75 in., middle toe 3*2 in., inner 2'3 in., hind toe 1'4 in. The 

 nails in this are much longer than in Phalacrocorax sinensis, ex- 

 cept that on the hind toe, which is shorter and smaller. The 

 fourth wing-quill slightly longer than the third, and longest. 

 Entire plumage deep black, beautifully shot with bronze and 

 purple, except on the quills and tail. Concealed downy por- 



