PHALACROCORACID/E THE CORMORANTS. 205 



keep the two supposed forms separate until more satisfactory 

 material can be compared. 



According to Audubon, there is a difference in the coloration 

 of the unfeathered parts of the head, in the breeding season, 

 the Florida Cormorant having the basal margins of the upper 

 mandible bright blue, the lower mandible bright blue "curiously 

 spotted with white," and the margins of the eyelids light blue 

 spotted with white. But as the Cormorants which I shot at 

 Pyramid Lake, Nevada, in May were thus marked with blue, 

 while those shot at Mt. Carinel, Illinois, in the spring were 

 similarly marked, it is probable that the blue eyelids, etc., are 

 characteristic of the nuptial season, and common to all the 

 geographical forms of the species. 



The Florida Cormorant, or at least specimens of G. dilophus 

 in no wise distinguishable from birds of the same species 

 breeding in Florida, is common in early spring on the Wabash 

 River as far north as Mt. Carmel, and no doubt occurs along 

 other rivers in the southern portion of the State. While I have 

 never actually found it breeding there, I have no doubt that it 

 does so. 



Phalacrocorax mexicanus (Brandt). 



MEXICAN CORMORANT. 



Popular synonym. Sargento (Mexico). 



Carbo mexicanus BRANDT, Bull. So. Acad. Ft. Petersb. iii, 1838. 55. GUNDL. Rep. Fls.-Nat. 



Cuba, 1. 1866, 895; J. t. 0. 1875, 401 (Cuba). 

 Graculus mexicanus BONAP. Consp. ii, 1856, 173. COUES, Key, 1872, 203; Cheek List, 1873, 



No. 531; B. N. W. 1874, 588. SNOW. Cat B. Kans. 1873, 12 (Lawrence, Kansas). RIDGW. 



Bull. Nutt Orn. Cl. v, 1880, 31 (Cairo, Illinois). 

 Phalacrocorax mexicanus BKEWEB, Proc. Bost. Soo. N. H. vii, 1860, 308 (Cuba). SOL. & 



SALV. Norn. Neotr. 1873, 124. RIDGW. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 644; Man. N. Am. B. 



1887, 79.-COUE8, 2d Check List, 1882, No. 754.-B. B. & R. Water B. N. Am. ii. 1884. 155.- 



A. O. U. Check List, 1886, No. 121. CORY, B. W. 1. 1889, 272, (Cuba). 

 Phalacrocorax resplendent LEMB. Aves de Cuba, 1850, 119 (= adult; nee AUDUBON). 

 Phalacrocorax townsendii LEMB. Aves de Cuba, 1850,120 [= young; nee AUDUBON). 



HAB. Central America. Mexico, Cuba, and southern United States, north in the Missis- 

 sippi Valley to Kansas and southern Illinois; south to Costa Rica. 



SP. CHAB. The smallest American species of the genus. Tail-feathers 12. Bill mod- 

 erately robust, the unguis arched and strongly hooked, the culmen slightly concave in the 

 middle portion and gently ascending at the base. Bare skin of face extending farthest 

 back on side of head, forming quite an angle behind the rictus ; feathers of the throat ad- 

 vancing forward on the median line, the apex sometimes divided or indented by a slight 

 intrusion of the naked skin of the gular pouch. Scapulars and wing-coverts narrow and 

 tapering, almost pointed. 



