PUALACKUCUHAX. 



:i:i3 



Phalacrocorax melanoleucus. 



LITTLE liLACK AMI WHITK COKMOl; AN 1'. 



11 il'lrocm-iix nidanoleucos, Vieill., Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., Tom. VIII., p. 8S (1817). 



I'liiilacroaira.r 7nelano/ei'ciix, Gould, Bds. Aiistr., fol. V^ol. VII., pi. 7') (I.SIS) ; iil., Handbk. 

 Bds. Austr., Vol. II., p. 493 (18G5) ; Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., V^ol. XXVI., p. 

 :39S (1898). 



Adcli' malk (in l)reHdini,' plullla^'e) — For-hi'tti/, ermru of tin' hnid, bdck of Ihf u.''cf,\ nJ.-m Kulefi 

 of /he low>'r jieck, back', /funks, ramp and tippir l(iU-i:oV''rls black ivif/i a sliijlil i/rfi'ni.s/i yloss ; upper 

 iring-covi'rf.i and scapulars ylossij yrei/ish-black, irilb. hlark marc/ins : rjnills black ; /'ilffenlh/'rs black 

 iiilli, a sliylit purplish (/loss : gull's of liend, n/ck ond <ill Ihf unibr surfacf aitd m/i/ir f.ail-coverls 

 pure /vhi/'' : bill dark horn colour, suIps of uppfr nm.ndililr mid entire und> r maiuliblf i/elloir \ legs 

 and feet black ; bare skin, around ottd in front of the eije ijelloiv ; iris dark broivii. Total lenijth in 

 the jfesh 2u inches, winy 8-75 tail tj, bill I'lo, tarsus l-Jf.5. 



Adult kkmalk (in breeding plumage), — 'Similar in plmnaye to tin- male. 



DisivHintiou. — North-western Australia, Northern Territory of South .Australia, (Queensland, 

 New South Wales, Victoria, South .\ustralia. Western .\ustralia. 



Afi^I IE Little Black and White Cormorant is abundantly distributed, in favourable situations, 

 -L over the greater portion of the .\ustralian Continent and Tasmania. It is likewise 

 found in New Zealand and the Islands of Torres Strait. Count Salvadori also records it from 

 New Guinea, New Caledonia, the Pelew and Aru Islands, Ternate, Celebes and Timor. It 

 frequents the bays and inlets of the coast, as well as the rivers and lakes of the interior, and is 

 far more common in the far inland waters than any of the preceding species. Near Sydney it 

 may frequently be met with in the dams and ornamental waters of Centennial Park, and 

 occasionally also in the far more circumscribed waters of the Botanic Gardens. It is usually 

 abundant on the shores of Narrabeen Lake, Middle Harbour, and Botany Bay ; also on the 

 I'arramatta and Cook Rivers. Gould remarks that the shyness of its disposition renders it very 

 dillicult of approach, particularly if its natural timidity has been increased by the discharge of a 

 gun. Familiarity has, however, in many instances, rendered it very bold in some districts 

 around Sydney. I have known this species clean out several pools stocl;ed with fish, and at 

 Chatswood to descend into a well hlled clay liole in a deserted brick-yard, surrounded with 

 houses, and close to a leading thoroughfare, to obtain the introduced carp. A specimen 

 obtained at Cook Kiver had the stomach crammed full with prawns. In habits, otherwise, 

 it resembles the other members of the genus. The Little Black and White Cormorant 

 or " Shag " used to be very numerous in the Tea-trees bordering the eastern side of the ornamental 

 lake in the Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, a peculiar effect being produced about sunset by the 

 birds all being perched one way, with their siKery- white breasts facing the setting sun. This 

 place, in my early collecting days, was a great resort of waterfowl of many species, but principally 

 Nankeen Night Herons, Ducks, Cormorants, Pelicans and Coots. 



From Bimbi, Duaringa, Queensland, Mr. H. G. Barnard sends me the following note: — 

 "'I he Little Cormorant (Pliahicrocorax mdanolcucns) breeds in the spring and autumn, whenever 

 the swamps are full. The nests are placed on small trees growing in the water, and are composed 

 of sticks and small green branches, broken from the trees on which the nests are built. These 

 birds breed in companies, as many as ten nests being built on one tree; some of the nests are 

 placed within a few feet of the water, others again being as much as thirty feet up. They lay 

 from three to five eggs, generally three." 



