GRACDLUS. 3'31 



Zool., Sec, Slnd. {Wudda Si Hi, Sind ; PanJcowa, Ilmd.) — The Large 



COKMORANT. 



In summer or breeding plumage, the head and neck are black with 

 white feathers intermixed ; nape with a short black erectile crest ; 

 lower neck, breast and entire under surface, except a white thio-h 

 patch, glossy black ; rump, upper tail-coverts and tail black ; chin and 

 a fillet of white running up to the eye white, bounded behind by 

 a black band; primaries and their coverts dull black, scapulars, 

 tertials, greater, median and lesser wing-coverts bronze brown, the 

 feathers margined with black ; legs and feet black ; bill brownish ; 

 irides deep or sea-green ; facial skin pale greenish ; gular pouch yellow, 

 spotted bluish in some. 



Length.— o2 to 35 inches, wing 13 2 to 14-7, tail 7 to 7-5, bill at 

 front 2-3 to 2-5. 



In winter the neck is black ; the white feathers and white thigh 

 patch disappear. 



Hab. — Sind, North, N.-West, Western and Central India, also 

 Beloochistan and Persia, extending to Eastern Turkistan, Nepaul and 

 Cashmere. Distribution almost universal. 



Breeds in Sind in the middle of the Samara Dhund in the Eastern 

 Narra Districts. Nest a platform of sticks, lined with grass and 

 rushes. Eggs 4 to 6 in number, white or greenish white, glossless, 

 and of a chalky texture. 



Whether on sea or on the inland lakes, Cormorants make terrible 

 havoc among the fishes inhabiting the waters they affect. Sometimes, 

 though seldom so seen, they swoop down from mid air on the object of 

 their prey, and pursue it under the surface of the water with great 

 dexterity and unerring certainty. They, however, must necessarily rise 

 to the surface to swallow their prey, and this trait no doubt has led to 

 their being trained by fishermen, for tho purpose of catching fish. la 

 Sind as well as in China and other countries fishermen always have a 

 dozen or more of these birds sitting, when not employed, lazily on the 

 cross beam of the prow of their boats, quite sullen and stern ; the whole 

 deportment of the bird gives it the aspect of an unrelenting tyrant. 



In fishing a leathern collar is put round their necks, to prevent the 

 fish being swallowed, and it is said the fishermen in Sind make a 

 livelihood by the amount of fish caught by Cormorants when their nets 

 fail. They are not, however, hooded, as falcons are, when unemployed. 



GraCUlus sinensis, Shaw, Nat. Misc. pi. 529; Jerd. B. Ind. iii. 

 p. 862, No. 1006; Sir. F. vii. 178; Murray, Bdbk., Zool, 4c., Sind, 

 p. 249. — The Lksser Cormorant. 



Adult Male. — Entire head and neck glossy black; back, scapulars, 

 rump and upper tail-coverts bronze, some of the feathers of the back 

 and wing-coverts margined with black ; throat white ; cheeks pale 

 brown; entire lower surface black. No white thigh or cheek patch. 

 Bill, gular skin and orbits as in the last; irides bluish green; feet 

 black. 



