SUPPLEMENT TO BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY 



47 



Lamb. \\'hile the Double-crested Cormorant holds its own on the breeding- 

 grounds about the Gulf of St. Lawrence and is abundant on our coast in the migra- 

 tions, this bird is steadily losing ground. In 1915, at Wapitagun, in southern 

 Labrador, I was able to identify only one Common Cormorant, whereas the 

 Double-crested species was breeding in large numbers. In the Gaspe Peninsula 

 in 1919, I found Double-crested Cormorants breeding abundantly, but none of 

 this species. 



On JMarch 14, 1909, I saw on the Salvages off Rockport, six Common Cor- 

 morants, — a large number for our coast. Two were adults in full black plumage 

 with white malar patches and white patches on the thighs. These white marks 

 were visible both when the birds were flying and when alighted. According to 

 Patterson^ the fowlers sometimes call the triangular white patch on the thigh 

 " the watch that it carries under the wing." The four other birds were immature 

 with dusky upper breasts, and white bellies. I heard their harsh croak. One 

 immature bird made four attempts to alight on the spindle before it succeeded. 

 After each unsuccessful attempt it would swing around and again fly up to the 

 spindle. In calm weather or with but a feeble air stirring I have seen this heavy 

 bird launch itself from the lower spindle, perhaps twenty feet above the water, 

 descend in a gentle curve and splash the water before it had gained impetus 

 enough to rise again. 



Damsell- records the case of a " Common Cormorant that was seen to be 

 harrassed by two Kingbirds at Amesbury on June 18, 1895. It sought refuge in 

 an oak tree and fell to the ground when it was captured. An examination showed 

 that one wing had been broken but had healed. The bird was a male." 



40 [120] Phalacrocorax auritus auritus (Less.). 



DoUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT ; " ShAG." 



Common transient visitor. April 4 to June 26 (July 7) ; July 17 to Novem- 

 ber 24. 



The June 26 record was of a single bird at the mouth of the Essex River in 

 1910. The July 17 record was a bird seen in 1915, on the spindle on the Brimbles 

 off Marblehead by Robert Walcott, Esq. On July 28, 1918, I saw one sitting on a 

 rock on the edge of the Essex River near Cross Island. It flew to the water, 

 swam and dived. 



On September 21, 1913, in a heavy southeaster with fog and rain I counted 



^ Patterson, W. L. Birds . . . frequenting Belfast Lough, p. 26, 1880. 

 - Allen, G. M. Auk, vol. 30, p. 22, 1913. 



