NATATOllES. 491 



in the capture of which it exhibits the same dexterity as the 

 other members of the genus. Its large size and the contrast 

 of its pied phimage render it a most conspicuous bird when 

 seen on the surface of the water, but at no time does it form 

 so prominent an object in the scene as when observed repos- 

 ing on the sand-banks and low ledges of rock, after having 

 satiated itself with food. 



The eggs of this species, taken on Three Sisters' Island, 

 about twenty miles southward of Swan River, w^ere two inches 

 and a half long and of a pale bluish white ; I obtained no 

 other particulars respecting its nidification, but Latham states 

 in his ' General History ' that it builds in trees, on which " a 

 dozen or more are seen at once, being more numerous than 

 the Spotted Shag" {Phalacrocorax punctatus). "The egg is 

 two inches and a half long, rather smaller than that of a hen, 

 and of a pale bluish white." 



I know of no other instance of Cormorants building on 

 trees except the present and that of the Phalacrocorax mela- 

 noleucuB, and this habit of the Phalacrocorax varius is given 

 on Latham's authority. 



The sexes are precisely alike in plumage, and also in the 

 brilliant markings of the lores and orbits ; the young of the 

 first autumn differ in having all the upper surface brown, each 

 feather having lighter edges ; the sides of the neck and upper 

 part of the breast are also mottled with brown and white. 



Crown of the head, back of the neck, lower part of the 

 back, upper tail-coverts, flanks and thighs deep glossy steel- 

 blue ; all the upper surface and wings deep dull green, each 

 feather with a very narrow margin of velvety black ; primaries 

 and tail deep greenish black ; sides of the face and all the 

 under surface pure white ; irides pale sea-green ; bare space in 

 front of the eye bright orange ; eyelash and naked skin be- 

 neath the eye rich indigo-blue ; throat and cheeks light bluish 

 ash ; bill dark horn-colour, becoming lighter at the tip ; legs 

 and feet black. 



