PHALACROCORAX. 343 



wing-coverts dark silvery grey, with a broad black border to each 

 feather. In the breeding-season some scattered while feathers 

 are developed on the crown and sides of the head, and a few long 

 white hair-like plumes grow on the sides of the neck ; the feathers 

 uf the occiput and nape are slightly lengthened. 



In non-breeding plumage there is a white throat bordering the 

 gular pouch. 



Young birds are brown with a white throat, the coloration is 

 darker above; the back, rump, tail, and wing-feathers blackish; 

 scapulars and wing-coverts grey with brown borders ; middle of 

 breast and abdomen whitish. 



Fig. 79. Head of P. javanicus. 



Bill brown, livid purple in the height of the breeding-season ; 

 gular skin and orbits blackish, livid in summer ; legs blackish, 

 dusky livid at the same season (Jerdon). 



Length 20 ; tail (of 12 feathers) 5*75 ; wing 8 ; tarsus 1-4 ; 

 bill from gape 2'3. 



Distribution. Throughout India, Ceylon, and Burma in all lovr, 

 well-watered areas, also in the Malay Peninsula, {Sumatra, Java, 

 and Borneo. 



Habits, fyc. This is by far the commonest Indian Cormorant ; 

 it is found in rivers, marshes, and large tanks, but not on the sea- 

 coast, at all events commonly. It is usually found singly or in 

 small parties, but collects into flocks to roost, and breeds in 

 enormous numbers on trees about water in July, August, or 

 September in ^Northern India and in Burma, but in February and 

 March in Ceylon. The eggs are 3 to 5 in number, and measure 

 about 1-76 by 1-16. 



Subfamily PLOTINJS. 

 Genus PLOTUS, Linn., 1760. 



Bill slender, straight, very sharp-pointed, both margins of com- 

 missure toothed near the tip ; no lateral groove ; nostrils small, 

 basal, linear ; neck very slender, with a bend at the 8th and 9th 

 vertebrae which, as Garrod has shown (P. Z. S. 1876, p. 337), 

 enables the bird, by suddenly straightening the neck, to transfix 

 with its bill the lishes it captures. Wing pointed, 3rd quill 

 longest ; scapulars elongate and lanceolate. Tail long, cuneate, of 

 12 rigid feathers. 



Four species inhabit the tropical regions of different con- 

 tinents ; one is Indiau. 



