PHALACROCORAX. 77 



black, the chestnut chest-band wanting, and upper parts much duller black, or 

 dusky grayish brown, with the light markings indistinct. Young in first year : 

 Similar to the preceding, but lower parts dull grayish buff, darker posteriorly ; 

 transverse corrugations on tail-feathers obsolete. Downy young : Entirely uniform 

 buff. Length 32.25-36.00, wing about 14.00, tail 11.00, culmen 3.25. Nest a rude 

 structure of sticks, etc., in trees or bushes overhanging or near fresh-water rivers, 

 ponds, or lakes. Eggs 2-4, 2.12 X 1-34, ovate or elongate-ovate, pale bluish green, 

 with a more or less continuous white calcareous superficial covering. Hab, The 

 whole of tropical and subtropical America, north to South Carolina, southern 

 Illinois (vicinity of Cairo), and western Mexico. 



118. A. anhinga (LiNN.). Anhinga. 



FAMILY PHALACROCORACID^E. THE CORMORANTS. (Page 73.) 



Genera. 

 (Characters same as for the Family) Phalacrocorax. (Page 77.) 



GENUS PHALACROCORAX BRISSON. (Page 77, pi. XX., figs. 1, 2 ; pi. XXII., 



fig. 1.) 



Nest a rude structure of sticks, etc., placed on trees, bushes, or rocks, near 

 water. Eggs 2-5, elongate-ovate, pale bluish green, with a more or less continuous 

 white chalky crust. 



Species. 



a 1 . Bill stout, with decidedly curved upper outline, the middle portion of the cul- 

 men being appreciably concave, the terminal nail, or unguis, more or less 

 arched, strongly hooked, and occupying one-third, or more, of the entire 

 length of the upper mandible, measured to the base of the culmen. (Sub- 

 genus Phalacrocorax.} 

 b l . Tail-feathers 14. 



Adult : A whitish patch adjoining base of gular pouch ; rest of head, 

 neck, and lower parts blue-black ; back and wing-coverts grayish 

 brown, each feather bordered with black. Nuptial plumage : Head 

 ornamented with white filamentous feathers, occiput with a short 

 mane-like crest, and flanks with a large white patch. Young in sec- 

 ond year (f) . Head, neck, and chest dull grayish brown, becoming 

 dusky on top of head and hind-neck, and brownish white on throat ; 

 rest of lower parts brownish dusky, mixed with white along the 

 median line. Young in first year (f ) : Upper part of throat, chest, 

 breast, and middle of belly, white, streaked, except on throat, with 

 grayish brown; top of head, and greater part of neck, grayish 

 brown. Nestling : Naked skin dull livid slate, feet purplish dusky, 

 with yellowish brown legs, the gular sac and inside of mouth flesh- 

 color. Length 34.00-40.00, wing 12.90-14.00, tail 7.25-7.75, culmen 



