68 



AX AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK, 



ORDER XIV. — PELICANIFORMES. 



F. 59. PHALACROCORACIDAE (5), CORMORANTS, 42 sp. 



—16 (14) A., 6(2)0., 7(3)P., 6(5)E., 10(4)Nc, 



9(6)N1. 



5 142 Cormorant, (Black), Black Shag, Phalacrocorax carbo. 



42 A., T., N.Z., cos. exc. S. Am. c. lagoons, sea 



Glossy blackish-green; side of neck, face bully white; 



white oil thighs; f., sim. Fish. 



35 



being free. Representatives of the six families are found in Aus- 

 tralia. These birds are fishers par excellence. 



In the first family come the well-known Cormorants or Shags, 

 birds found in almost every country in the world. Forty-two 

 species are known, of which five occur in Australia. 



The large Black Cormorant is the common Black Cormorant of 

 Britain. It has a very extensive range over North America, 

 Greenland, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. 



The little Black Cormorant is found in Australia, from the 

 Moluccas to Borneo, and in New Zealand. Indeed, New Zealand 

 is the stronghold of Cormorants, as it possesses many species. 



The White-breasted and Pied Cormorants are so closely similar 

 that possibly they will yet prove to be one species. Each is 

 glistening white below, and jet black above. The bill is said 

 to be longer in the Pied Cormorant, and the patch of naked skin 

 near the eye is yellow, whereas, in the White-breasted Cormorant, 



