ZOOLOGY. 267 



Family P H AL AC RO C OR AC I D A E- -Th e Cormorants. 



Graculus, B o n a p . 

 GRACULUS DILOPHUS, (Sw.) Gray. 



Donltlc-crested Cormorant. 



Pelccanus {Catbo) dilojihus, Sw. Faun. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 473. 



Phalacrocorax dilophus, Ndtt. Man. II, 1831, 483.— AifD. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 420 : V, 1839, 628.— Ib. Syn. 1839, 



302— Ib. Birds Am. VI, 1844, 423; pl.ccccxvi. 

 Gramlus dilophus, Gray, Gen. of Birds, 1845. — Bon. Cons. Ay. II, 1855, 172. — Baird & Lawrence, Gen, Rep. 



Birds, 877. 

 Cario dilophus, Gamb. Jour. Acad. Nat. So. Phil. 2d Ser. I, 1849, 247. 

 Sp. Ch — Greenish black ; behind each eye a recurved crest of loose feathers; gular sac orange; second quill longest; tai' 

 of twelve feathers. 



^idull. — The plumage of the head, neok, lower part of the back and entire under surface is greenish black, the feathers of 

 the upper part of tiie back, the wing-coverts, the scapularics and tertiaries, grayish brown or dark ash, the margins of which 

 are greenish black; primaries blackish brown, lighter on the inner webs; the secondaries dark grayish brown; tail black, as 

 are also the shafts; running from the bill over the eye is a line of white filamentous feathers, there are also a few of the same 

 character sparsely distributed over the neck; behiad each eye is a tuft of rather long slender feathers, erect and curving 

 forwards; bare space in the region of the eye, and gular sac orange; upper mandible blackish brown, with the edges yel- 

 lowish ; lower yellow, marked irregular with dusky ; iris bright green ; legs, feet, and claws black, claw of the middle too 

 pectinated. 



Length, 34 inches; extent, 51.50; wing, 13; tail, 6.75; bill, 2.85; tarsus, 3.50; outer toe and claw, 4; inner, 2.50; hind, 1.75. 

 Hab — Atlantic coast from Labrador to Carolina; fur countries; Pacific coast from Washington Territory to California. 



The double-crested cormorant is very common during spring and fall, in the larger rivers of 

 the Territory, west of the Cascade mountains, where they generally sit on some snag or stump in 

 the water watching for fish, or sunning themselves like vultures after eating, with their wings 

 half-spread. Thej' are very watchful, and rarely let a boat approach within gunshot, though 

 they often stupidly fly close to it, after starting off. In winter they abound in the open bays 

 and mouths of rivers, but in summer appear to retire to more northern regions. I have never 

 heard tliem make any sound. "When wounded they swim and dive so rapidly that it is useless 

 to pursue them. They roost on cliffs and trees at night. — C. 



Rather common on Puget Sound, where I obtained a specimen in February, 1856. Individuals 

 of this species are fond of alighting on drift logs, and thus float about with the tides and 

 currents, apparently greatly enjoying their mode of travel. 



Immense numbers of cormorants are found in flocks on the rocky islands near Bellingham 

 bay.— S. 



GRACULUS VIOLACEUS, (Gmelin,) Gray. 



Vlolet-Greeu Conuoraiit. 



Ptlecanus violaceus, Gm. Syst. Nat. 1, 1789, 575. 



Graculus violaceus, Gray, Gen. of Birds, 1845.— Baird & Lawrence, Gen. Rep. Birds, p. 881. 



Phalacrocorax resptendens. Add. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 148.— Ib. Syn. 1839, 304.— Ib. Birds Am. VI, 1843, 430; pi. 



ccccxix. 

 Urile bicristalus, Bon. Cons. Av. II, 1855, 175. 

 Sp. Ch.— Violet-green ; narrow white feathers are sparingly distributed on the sides of the neck and hind part, and sides 

 of the bod}' ; gular sac orange. 



.«((«((.— Crown and sides of the head dark bluish green, gradually blending with the beautiful violet blue of the hind head 

 and entire neck ; back, rump, wings, and other plumage of a rich deep green ; axillars, sides under the wings, and thigh 



