NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



643a. Florida Cormorant — phalacrocorax dilophus floridanus. 

 Eggs as usual; two to four; size 2.40 by 1.40, with great variation. This 

 species is resident in Florida and along the Gulf coast, and breeds by 

 thousands on the mangrove bushes. 



Hab. Coast of the South Atlantic and Gulf States, northward in the Mississippi Valley to Southern 

 Illinois. 



644. Mexican Cormorant — phalacrocorax mexicanus. Eggs and 

 .nesting like the last. 



Hab. West Indies, South and Central America to Southern United States; north in the interior to 

 Kansas and Southern Illinois. 



645. Brandt's Cormorant — phalacrocorax penicillatus. Eggs as 

 usual. This is a very coiriinon Cormorant along the Pacific coast of the 

 United States, especially the California coast. Breeds in great numbers 

 on the Farallone Islands, where also is found Baird's Cormorant. Tufted 

 Cormorant is its other name. 



Hab. Pacific coast of North America, from Cape St. Lucas to Washington Territory. 



646. Violet-green Cormorant — phalacrocorax violaceus. The Violet- 

 green Cormorant is very abundant in suitable places along the Alaskan 

 coast. It breeds in communities, as usual, nesting on cliffs and ledges of 

 rocks. The eggs are three or four in number, of the usual color; size 



about 2.50 by 1.52. Hab. Coast of Alaska, from Norton Sound to Sitka. 



64:6a. Baird's Cormorant — phalacrocorax violaceus resplendens. 

 Baird's Cormorant is like the last, but is a much smaller bird, with ex- 

 tremely slender bill. The nesting is like that of P. violaceiis. 



Hab. Pacific coast of North America, from Cape St. Lucas to Washington Territory. 



647. Red-faced Cormorant — phalacrocorax bicristatus. This species 

 inhabits both the coast and islands of Alaska. It is resident on the Seal 

 Islands of Behring's Sea, where it is found in thousands, nesting on rocky 

 cliffs. Its habits correspond with those of the others. 



Hab. Priyliilof and Aleutian Islands, and coast of Kamtschatka. 



'649. American Anhinga; Snake Bird — pectus anhinga. Bluish or 

 dark greenish-white, with a white, chalky incrustation; like a Cormorant's 

 eggs in color and texture of shell, but narrow and elongate; size about 

 2.60 by 1.25. This singular-looking bird is very common in summer in 

 the South Atlantic and Gulf States to North Carolina, frequenting the 

 almost impenetrable swamps. It is a constant resident in Florida. This 

 bird dives with amazing ease, and when alarmed will drop from its perch 

 with scarcely a ripple on the surface of the water, and will swim beneath 

 the surface to a safe distance before reappearing. It also has the curious 

 habit of quietly sinking like a Grebe, and it often swims with the body 



