368 BIEDS OF DAMARA LAND. 



[A specimen of this Cormorant in winter plumage was con- 

 tained in Mr. Andersson's last collection, and is now in that of 

 Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun. ; it is marked as having been obtained 

 in Walwich Bay on December 16th, 1863, and is precisely simi- 

 lar to English examples in the winter dress. 



Mr. Layard informs me that he believes he has seen the true 

 Graculus carbo in Simon's Bay in breeding-plumage, but that 

 the bird which was inserted in his ' Birds of South Africa/ 

 p. 380, under the name of Graculus carbo, proved on further ex- 

 amination to be a distinct species, Graculus lucidus, Licht. ED.] 



425. Graculus capensis, Sparrm. Cape-Cormorant. 



Pelecanus capensis, Sparrman's Mus. Carlson, pi. 61. 

 Gracidus capensis, Layard's Cat. No. 699. 



This is the most abundant species of Cormorant along 

 the whole south-west coast of Africa ; indeed at some 

 seasons of the year they may be counted not merely by 

 tens or even by hundreds of thousands, but by millions : 

 their numbers, in fact, exceed all computation ; for it 

 is no unusual thing to see a deep unbroken line of these 

 birds winging their way for two, or even three, consecu- 

 tive hours to or from their feeding-grounds. 



This Cormorant leaves Walwich Bay for its breeding- 

 places in December ; and during the nesting-season large 

 numbers are to be found on almost every suitable rock and 

 islet from the river Cunene to Table Bay, in which situa- 

 tions, next to the Gannet and Penguin, this species is the 

 principal depositor of guano. Its nest is composed of 

 seaweed; its eggs are either one or two in number, 

 white speckled with pearl-grey and pale sea-green, and 

 about two inches in length. 



