THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 15 



The distribution of the Cormorants is almost 

 world-wide, but is very curious. Our familiar 

 species is found almost everywhere and breeds in 

 any climate. The common Cormorant of the 

 warm parts of Asia is the smallest of all, the black 

 Phalacrocorax javanicus, a fresh-water bird. New 

 Zealand has no less than fifteen species, sea and 

 inland, in spite of a very limited variety of fresh- 

 water fish. In this colony the birds are called 

 Shags. Much of South America, on the other hand, 

 in spite of the great water area and fish-supply, 

 has only the one kind, P. vigua. 



Coursers {Glareolidce). 



Diagnosis. — Plover-like birds, with corner of mouth 

 extending back beyond forehead, and two outer toes 

 only webbed at the base. 



Size. — From that of a dove to that of a thrush. 



Form. — Bill short, generally curved in profile, with 

 corner of mouth half-way to eye ; feet with moderate 

 or long shanks, two outer front toes with a short 

 web at the base, the claw of middle toe toothed on 

 the inside ; hind-toe small or wanting. Wings 

 moderate or very long ; tail short or long. Head 

 rather large, and general appearance plover-like. 



Plumage and Colouration. — Colour much as in many 

 plovers, brown, drab, or grey, with white below ; 

 wing-lining often conspicuously contrasted. No 

 sex- difference or seasonal change ; young mottled 

 with buff in first plumage. 



Young. — Active and downy, the dowii finely speckled. 



Nest. — A mere " scrape " on the ground. 



Eggs. — Three ; spotted as in plovers, but more oval 

 and less pear-shaped. 



Incubation. — About three weeks. 



