BIRDS — PHALACROCOEACIDAE — GKACULUS, 875 



Family P H AL AC ROCO R A CID AE . 



Ch. — Bill rather moderate, culmen concave, tip much hooked and acute ; nostrils not perceptible ; wings moderate and 

 pointed ; tail rather short and rounded ; tarsi short ; toes long and all joined by full webs ; gular sac capable of considerable 

 expansion. 



I have included all tlie Cormorants inhabiting our territory in the genus Oraadus. They are 

 placed in several genera by Prince Bonaimrte, as may be seen by the synonomy given with each 

 species. 



GRACULUS, Linnaeus. 



Graculus, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1735. Type Pelecanus carbo, L. 



Ch. — Bill rather slender, of moderate length, with the culmen concave, hooked at the tip, the sides compressed and grooved ; 

 nostrils not visible in the adult; wings moderately long and pointed, second and third primaries longest; tail moderate and 

 graduated at the end ; tarsi short and much compressed ; toes long and full webbed ; a leathery pouch at the base of the lower 

 mandible, which can be much distended. 



These birds exist abundantly in all parts of the globe. They are mostly found on the 

 sea-coast, breeding on rocky ledges difficult of access, and also on trees. They are exceedingly 

 expert in catching fish, beiug very active in the water, and capable of remaining under its 

 surface for a great length of time. 



The following characters will distinguish the eight species of this genus inhabiting North 

 America : 



Bluish Dlack ; bill strong ; gular sac yellow, the lower margin encircled by white feathers ; 

 the gular sac is divided through the centre longitudinally by a line of white feathers, which 

 extends for a short distance beyond the base of the lower mandible between the crura ; shafts 

 of tail and quill feathers greyish blue at base, becoming black at the end ; feathers of the hind 

 neck elongated , G. carbo. 



Dark green ; gular sac orange ; on the neck long filamentous straw colored feathers ; a patch 

 of white on each side above the thighs ; shafts of tail feathers white G. perspicillaius. 



Shining greenish black ; bill short, strong, and rugose ; a line of white feathers over the 

 eye, prolonged behind, and curling downwards G. cincmnatus. 



Greenish black ; bill strong ; gular sac orange ; a large tuft of feathers on each side the 

 crown; shafts of tail feathers black G. dilophus. 



Greenish black ; bill rather strong ; gular sac orange, its lower part of a rounded form, the 

 same as in ^^ dilophus ;" crests consisting of a line of feathers on each side the crown, and 

 curving downwards ; shafts of tail feathers black G.Jloridanus. 



Purplish black ; bill moderate ; gular sac dull orange, margined with pure white, its lower 

 margin forming an arched line across the throat ; long white linear feathers on the neck ; 

 shafts of tail feathers black G. mexicanus. 



Deep green ; bill moderately strong ; gular sac blue, encircled with a broad band of brownish 

 drab or fawn colored feathers ; from the lower margin of the gular sac the feathers project for 



