63 



Though called "Common" Cormorant this is the rarest of our eastern 

 Canadian Cormorants. The species occurs on the European coast and was 

 given the name "Common" because of its abundance around the British 

 Isles. 



Economic Status. Owing to its rarity it is of little economic import- 

 ance in Canada. 



120. Double-crested Cormorant. FR. LE CORMORAN A. AIGRETTES. Phalacro- 

 corax auritus. L, 30. See family description on previous page. 



Distinctions. This species is likely to be confused with the preceding one only. In 

 adult plumage the absence of any white at the base of the gular sac and on the flanks is 

 diagnostic. In other plumages, size and the presence of t velve instead of fourteen feathers 

 in the tail must be relied upon. Early in the spring the filamentous crests on the sides 

 of the head instead of a ragged ruff as in the previous species are characteristic; but these 

 features are lost early in the season, before nesting begins, and hence are usually of little 

 help in determination. 



Field Marks. Though Cormorants can be recognized easily by the characters given 

 under the family heading, size and the presence or absence of the white spots are about 

 the only features that serve to separate the two species in life. 



Nesting. On the ground amongst rocks, or on cliff ledges, occasionally in bushes 

 or low trees, in rather bulky structures of sticks or weeds. 



Distribution. The Double-crested Cormorant breeds on the gulf of St. Lawrence and 

 on lakes in the prairie provinces. It is a rather uncommon though perhaps regular migrant 

 on the Great Lakes. 



SUBSPECIES. The Double-crested Cormorant of North America is divided into 

 four subspecies, of which within the range of this book there is only one, the Eastern 

 Double-crested Cormorant, the type race. 



This is the most common Cormorant of eastern Canada. Unlike the 

 previous species it is not strictly maritime and is found on fresh as well 

 as salt water. It captures its prey by diving and pursuit under water. 

 Unlike the Gannet it never dives from the wing but first alights on the 

 surface and then goes under with a serpentine, gliding movement like a 

 Loon. It seldom remains under water longer than forty seconds. 



Economic Status. The danger of jumping at conclusions based upon 

 superficial observation or common report was well illustrated by the out- 

 come of a study of the food of these birds in the neighbourhood of the 

 Gaspe salmon rivers. 1 Though commonly accused of damaging the salmon 

 fisheries by devouring the small fish and fry, careful examination of about 

 thirty specimens showed that the birds were eating fish of no 

 economic value and no salmonoid remains were found in them. 

 Probably the eels, sculpins, and other fish taken by the Cormorant make 

 the species beneficial rather than harmful to the salmon, and may 

 more than compensate for the few valuable fish that it occasionally takes. 

 This is a good example of the caution that is necessary before condemning 

 ary species of birds. 



FAMILY PELECANID^J. PELICANS. 



Genus Pelicanus. Pelicans. 



General Description. Large bird with a very long, flattened bill and enormous throat 

 or gular pouch. 



Distinctions. The enormous throat pouch, holding a gallon or more, and the long 

 flattened bill are always diagnostic. 



i"The Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax Auritus, ar 1 Its Relation to Salmon Industries on the Gulf 

 St. Lawrence," Dept. of Mines, Geol. Surv., Can., Mus. Bull. No. 13, Biological Series No. 5 ,1915. 



