V. GRACULIDZE (Diving fishers). 
Famity GRACULIDA 
We found the last group expert at catching fish, which rise to 
the suriace of the water, but they did not follow their quarry to any 
depth below. Cormorants differ in this, as well as in other respects 
from Pelicans. These birds are expert divers, though scarcely able 
to compete with Plotus melanogaster (1008), of whose accomplish- 
ments we will look into, when we arrive at the Indian Snake-bird, 
as it is called. Bill of the Cormorant is largish, cylindrical, and 
hooked at the tip like pelicans ; tail different, which is stiff with 
short coverts. The prevailing colour of Graculide is black. They 
are strong on the wing; swim and dive with ease. They have a 
similar pouch in the bill, as was noticed in pelicans, which also acts 
as a receptical for holding the fish, that has been secured. In 
appearance the bill is slightly raised, a position common in fishing 
birds ; wings short. The three species of Graculus, are found in this 
district, so that it is immaterial which of these birds we shall extend 
our enquiries to. 
(1006) Gracutus Srnensts, Lesser Cormorant, is more frequently 
met with at a low elevation at foot of the hills, than on Runjeet 
and Teesta, before they dip down into the humid plains of the Terai. 
In size this Cormorant is about 27 inches ; bill brown, more reddish 
in colour below: the neck skin, etc. yellow ; irides verdigris blue. 
Colour of the plumage changes according to the season, though not 
to so great an extent as some of the other Water-birds ; back and 
wing-coverts are bronze; head and neck glossed black; lower 
plumage deep black ; throat and part of the lower face white ; brown 
above the eyes. These birds are also employed for catching fish, 
fishermen utilise their diving accomplishments, which they turn to 
some account by fixing an iron ring round the Cormorant’s throat 
to prevent it from swallowing the captured fish. This must be a 
tantalizing occupation for a hungry Cormorant. To make them 
more alert in securing fish, these birds are kept on “low diet!” As 
soon as fish is caught the wily fisherman in his “dug out” close at 
hand, soon relieves the bird’s inflated pouch. 
(1005) GracvuLus caro, Large Cormorant, is met with on our 
larger hill rivers generally among the gorges, and by the side of 
forests. Occasionally in the Little Runjeet valley. Its length is 
33 inches; colour, above, bronze, with feathers edged black on the 
back and wing-coverts ; sides of the head white ; remaining portion 
of the plumage are black, excepting a white patch from the eyes 
