THE WHITE-TUFTED CORMORANT. 233 



603. PHALACROCORAX FUSCICOLLIS. 

 THE WHITE-TUFTED CORMORANT. 



Phalacrocorax fuscicollis, Steph. Gen. Zoo/, xiii. pt. i. p. 91 ; Legge, Birds Ceylon, 

 p. lisi> ; I/tnnr \ Dav. S. F. vi. p. 496 ; Sutler, S. F. vii. p. 178 ; Hume, S. F. 

 viii. p. 11(5; Oatcs, S. F. x. p. 24*. Phalacrocorax sinensis, Steph. Gen. 

 Zool. xiii. pt. i. p. 90. Graculus sinensis (Shaw)*, Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 862 ; 

 Hume, Nests and Eyy*, p. 060 ; Butter, S. F. iv. p. 33. Graculus fuscicollis, 

 Bl. B. Sunn. p. 164 ; Gates, S. F. v. p. 170. 



Description. Male in breeding -plumage. The whole plumage deep black 

 glossed with blue and green ; the feathers of the back, scapulars and wing- 

 coverts brown with broad black margins ; a tuft of decomposed soft white 

 feathers, about an inch in length, on either side the head just behind the 

 ear-coverts ; a few very minute specks of white on the forehead, over the 

 eye and on the lower neck. 



The female in breeding-plumage differs from the male in wanting the 

 white tufts on the side of the head. 



In nonbreeding-plumage there is a band of white immediately next the 

 naked gular skin, the white tufts and white specks on the head are 

 altogether wanting, and the cheeks and fore neck are brownish. 



Iris green ; naked skin of the head yellow ; feet and claws black ; upper 

 mandible blackish, lower whitish. 



Length 25 inches, tail (of twelve feathers) 6*6, wing 10*8, tarsus 1*7, bill 

 from gape 3'4. The female is of the same size. 



I am of opinion that, as above stated, the female in the breeding- 

 plumage differs from the male- in wanting the white tufts on the sides of 

 the head ; but I am not quite certain of the fact. 



The White-tufted Cormorant is very abundant, and resident in the 

 streams which intersect the plain between the Pegu and the Sittang rivers ; 

 but in other portions of Pegu I did not meet with more than a few birds. 

 Mr. Davison noticed it in the creeks between the Sittang and Salween 

 rivers ; and it will probably be found in small numbers in most parts of 

 the Province. 



It extends through the Indo- Burmese countries, and is found over the 

 greater portion of the Indian peninsula. 



The habits of this species are precisely the same as those of P. carbo. 

 I found it breeding in the swamps at Myitkyo in July ; the nests were 

 built on reeds near the surface of the water. 



* The Pelecanus sinensis, Shaw, is undoubtedly the large Cormorant of China. Pele- 

 canm sinensis, Lath. (Ind. Orn. Suppl. p. Ixx) is said to have twelve rectrices, and the 

 description would apply as well to the present species as to any other ; but it is said to be 

 very common in China, and to be the species used by the people for fishing. No one has, 

 however, met with this Cormorant in China in recent years. 



