602 



COLLEGE ZOOLOGY 



majority of the species in the order. They are almost cosmo- 

 politan and very sociable. In China and a few other countries 

 these birds are trained to catch fish and are of considerable 

 value to their owners. The common cormorant, or shag, 

 Phalacrocorax^carbo (Fig. 490), occurs on the Atlantic coast of 



Europe and North America and 

 breeds on the rocky shores of 

 Labrador and Newfoundland. 



The herons and bitterns 

 (Family Ardeid^e) possess long 

 legs fitted for wading, broad 

 wings, and short tails. They 

 are found in the warmer regions 

 of the globe and feed chiefly on 

 fishes. The great blue heron, 

 Ardea herodias, is a large species 

 occurring in all parts of North 

 America. It is about four feet 

 long and has an extent of wings 

 of about six feet. Its large flat 

 nest is built of coarse sticks 

 usually in the top of a high 

 tree; four to six greenish blue 

 eggs are laid. 



The seven species of fla- 

 mingos (Family Phcenicopte- 

 rid.e, Fig. 491) inhabit the tropics ; one of them occurs in 

 Florida. They are gregarious birds, congregating in thousands 

 on mud flats where they build their conical mud nests. They 

 are rosy vermilion in general color. 



Order 14. Anseriformes. — Goose-like Birds. — These birds 

 are either adapted for swimming, with short legs and fully 

 webbed front toes, or for wading, with large feet and a short 

 decurved bill. Their young are entirely covered with down and 

 can swim or run about soon after hatching, i.e. are precocious. 



Fig. 491. — Flamingo, Phcenicoplcrus 

 roseus. (From Evans.) 



