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PELICANID^. 



SUCCEEDING the family of the Auks, very limited in 

 numbers in every part of the world, and comprising 

 only seven species that can rank as British, we 

 pass to the group of the Cormorants and Solan Geese, 

 of which we possess only two forms, represented by 

 three species. These birds are still prominently 

 aquatic, seek their whole food under the water, and 

 are extremely voracious ; some breed gregariously 

 on precipitous rocks in the vicinity of the sea ; but 

 the Cormorants often travel inland, and perch and 

 sleep on trees ; the latter form the 



GENUS PHALACRACORAX, Brisson. Generic cha- 

 racters. Bill long, straight, slightly com- 

 pressed, maxilla terminating in a powerful 

 hook, furrowed laterally to the tip ; nostrils 

 basal, concealed, base naked ; wings rather 

 short, second or third quill longest ; legs placed 

 behind ; tarsi short, strong, but ample ; four 

 toes, all connected, the outer longest, others 

 gradually shortened. 



Types. P. carlo, fyc. Cosmopolite. 



Note. Undergo a seasonal change ; migrate par- 

 tially inland in winter ; perch on trees ; capable 

 of domestication ; trained to fish. 



