©BEEN CORMORANT. 
11 
erected and even bent forwards at the pleasure of the bird. 
In some specimens it consists of only one, two, or three 
plumes, but in others is much more developed, probably with 
more mature age; their length upwards of two inches, and 
bent forwards. In autumn and winter the crest is absent. 
Crown, neck, and nape, rich dark bronze green, the plumage 
of a silky texture. In some individuals a few white feathers 
have been noticed. Chin and throat, rich dark green, the 
pouch under the chin is yellowish green with specks of black; 
breast, rich dark green, the plumage silky. Back on the 
upper part, dark green, with purple, green, and bronze 
reflections, the feathers narrowly edged at the tip with 
black. 
The wings expand to the width of three feet eight or ten 
inches; greater and lesser wing coverts, dark blackish green, 
shewing reflections of purple, green, and bronze, the feathers 
narrowly edged with velvet black. Primaries, black; second¬ 
aries, black; tertiaries, black. The tail is short, wedge-shaped, 
and black in colour. It contains twelve feathers; they are 
strong and elastic, forming, as already noticed, a support for 
the bird when on land. Legs and toes, dusky black; the 
middle claw is serrated; webs, black. 
The female resembles the male, but is less in size; weight, 
three pounds and a quarter; length, about two feet three 
inches. 
The young bird is at first covered with black down, which 
soon gives place to the regular plumage, namely, head, crown, 
neck, and nape, greyish black tinged with green; chin and 
throat, white. Breast above, greyish brown, on the middle 
and lower part greyish white, the sides dusky; back, brown, 
tinged with dull green; the black edge to the feathers is wider 
than in the old bird. The tail dusky, each feather edged 
with pale grey, the tips white; upper tail coverts, dusky. 
Sir William Jardine mentions one of these birds which he 
saw of a light grey appearance. A cream-coloured specimen 
was shot off the coast of Iona, in the summer of 1854, by 
Mr. Colin Mc’Vean; as Henry F. Wood, Esq., of Southfield 
Square, Bradford, has obligingly sent me word. All such 
occasional varieties pay the penalty of ‘shewing false colours,’ 
and are sure to receive a shot. 
The engraving is from a figure made by John Gatcombe, 
Esq., of Plymouth. Theodore Compton, Esq. has also obliged 
me with a drawing of the bird. 
