PHALACROCORAX. 649 



Genus PPIALACROCORAX. 



The Cormorants were included by Linnaeus in the genus Pelecanus, but 

 in 1760 Brisson, in his ' Ornithologia ' (vi. p. 511), provided the genus 

 Phalacrocorax for their reception. The Common Cormorant, P. carbo 

 (being the Phalacrocorax phalacrocorax of Brissoii), is the type. 



The Cormorants may be distinguished from the species in the other 

 genera of the Pelecanidse by the length of the outer toe, which is longer 

 than any of the others. They have a strongly curved hook at the end of 

 the bill, and their nostrils are obliterated when they become adult. They 

 have rather short wings, but a moderately long tail. Their prevailing 

 colours are dark brown, with metallic green, blue, or purple reflexions. 



There are probably about thirty species of Cormorant, which are dis- 

 tributed over most parts of the world, except in the arctic regions and in 

 the Pacific islands. Three species are found in Europe, but only two of 

 them are British. 



The Cormorants frequent the sea-coasts, lakes, and large rivers, and feed 

 almost exclusively on fish. Their somewhat short wings cause them to fly, 

 like Ducks, in a straight line, with rather rapid motions of the pinions, but 

 they swim and dive to perfection. They perch freely on rocks and trees, 

 but walk clumsily. They make large nests on the ground, on rocks, or in 

 trees. Their eggs are few in number, creamy white or bluish white, with- 

 out spots, and, like those of the Pelicans, Gannets, Grebes, and Flamingoes, 

 are remarkable for the roughness of the surface. 



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