520 THE COMMON CORMORANT. 



of all kinds. In winter this species strays southward along 

 the coast as far as Maryland. The Double-crested Cormo- 

 rant (Phalacrocorax dilophus) has about the same range as 

 the former, and is even more numerous. About 30-33 

 inches in length, it is a little shorter and smaller every 

 way than the former. In color it is very similar, except 

 that it has noticeably black shafts in the dark-edged 

 feathers of the wings and back, and it generally lacks the 

 white flank-patch common to the former species in sum- 

 mer. In form it is well differentiated, not only by the 

 double crest of curly black feathers, and of stray filamentous 

 white ones over the eyes and along the sides of the neck, 

 in the mature dress of summer, but by its gular patch, 

 straight edged behind, while in the former it is heart- 

 shaped, and by its 12 tail-feathers instead of the 14 of the 

 former. The young of both species is plain dark brown, 

 paler or grayish below. 



The Florida Cormorant (var. floridans) is simply a smaller 

 and more southern variety of the Double-crested species. 

 The bill, however, is as large if not larger, and it would seem 

 that the white plumes are not developed; " Resident on the 

 Floridan and Gulf Coast, breeding by thousands on the man- 

 grove bushes; in summer ranging up the Mississippi Valley 

 to Ohio, and along the coast to North Carolina." (Coues.) 



The Cormorants sometimes stray quite a distance from 

 the sea on the fresh-water courses during the migrations. 

 They have been taken on Niagara River.* 



*The manner in which a certain species of the Cormorant (P. Sznensis) fishes for his 

 master is well known. Buffon says : " They are regularly educated to fishing, as men 

 rear Spaniels or Hawks, and one man can easily manage a hundred. The fisherman car- 

 ries them out into a lake, perched on the gunnel of his boat ; where they continue 

 tranquil, and wait for his orders with patience. When arrived at the proper place, on the 

 first signal, each flies a different way to fulfill the task assigned to it. It is pleasant on this 

 occasion to behold with what sagacity they portion out the lake or canal where they are upon 

 duty. They hunt about, they plunge, they rise a hundred times to the surface, until they 

 have at last found their prey. They then seize it by the middle, and carry it to their 

 master. When the fish is too large, they assist each other; one seizes it by the head, and 

 another by the tail, and in this manner they carry it to the boat together. There the 

 boatman stretches out one of his long oars, on which they perch, and, after being de- 

 livered of their burden, again fly off to pursue their sport. When they are wearied, he suf- 

 fers them to rest awhile ; but they are never fed until their work is over." 



