PHALACROCORACID.E — THE CORMORANTS — PHALACROCORAX. 163 



hut without the white flank patches or filamentous feathers on neck and rump. Young : Uniform 

 brownish dusky, with a faint purplish cast, the upper parts darker and more glossy. "Base of 

 mandibles dull ashy blue, with a narrow orange stripe around it, but the borders of the naked 

 membrane ill-defined " (W. H. 

 Dall, MS.) ; iris brown ; legs 

 and feet black. Downy young: 

 Uniform sooty grayish brown. 



Total length, about 33 to 

 35 inches ; extent, 48 ; wing, 

 10.50-11.60(10.94); tail, 6.30 

 -8.00 (7.25) ; eulnien, 2.05- 

 2.30 (2.16) ; tarsus, 1.75-2.50 

 (2.17) ; outer toe, 3.1(1-3.70 

 (3.44). [Fifteen specimens 

 measured.] 



This species; is very similar 

 to P. pelagicus, but may be 

 readily distinguished, at all 

 ages, by the strip of naked skin 

 across the base of the culmen, 



the same region being covered by the frontal feathers in P. pelagicus. The colors of the adult 

 are also quite appreciably different, the neck being less purple, while the scapulars are decidedly 

 more so ; the lower parts are rather mure bronzy than in pelagicus. 



This appears to be a species peculiar to the North Pacific region, occurring on the 

 Asiatic coast from Kamtschatka to Formosa, and Japan. On the American shore it 

 lias not been met with south of Alaska ; but it is said to be abundant on the coast 

 of Japan, where specimens were obtained in March, 1865, by Mr. H. Whitely near 

 Hakodadi ("Ibis," 1867). 



Mr. Dall found it abundant on the Island of St. George, where he obtained speci- 

 mens, and w'hence its eggs have since been procured. The colors reflected from its 

 feathers during life are said to be very brilliant, and the skin near the eye passes 

 from bright crimson, near the bill, to a bright bluish purple toward the feathers. 



Mr. Henry W. Elliott met with this species in great abundance through the whole 

 year on the Prybilof Islands, it being — as he states — the only one of its tribe visit- 

 ing that group of islands. The terrible storms occurring in February and March are 

 not sufficient to drive it away from the sheltered cliffs, while all other species — even 

 the Great Northern Gull (L. glaums) — depart for the open water south. This spe- 

 cies resorts to the cliffs to make its nest, and is the earliest of the sea-birds to 

 appear in that region. Two eggs were taken from a nest on the reef at St. Paul's 

 Island, June 1, 1872 — a date over three weeks in advance of the breeding of almost 

 all the other Water Fowl. The nests were large, carefully rounded up, and built upon 

 some jutting point, or on a narrow shelf, along the face of a cliff or bluff. In their 

 construction sea-ferns (Sertulwridce), grass, etc., are used, together with a cement made 

 largely of the excrements of the bird itself. 



The eggs are usually three in number — sometimes four — and very small, as com- 

 pared with the size of the bird. They are oval, of a dirty whitish-gray green and blue 

 color, but soon become soiled ; for although its plumage is sleek and bright, the bird 

 itself is exceedingly slovenly, and filthy about its nest. The young come from the 

 shell after three weeks' incubation, without feathers, and almost bare even of down. 

 They grow rapidly, being fed by the old birds, who in doing this eject the contents 

 of their stomachs — such as small fish, crabs, and shrimps — all over and around the 

 nest. In about six weeks the young Cormorant can take to its wings, being then as 



