198 PHALACKOCOKACIILE. 



Order PELECANIFORMES. 

 Family PHALACROCOEACID^E. 



The eggs of the Cormorants are of a narrow biconical or elliptical 

 form, but a few are oval with the smaller end compressed and 

 bluntly pointed. 



They are of a pale blue colour, but this is, in the majority of the 

 specimens, concealed from view by a coat of white chalky matter 

 which is entirely without gloss, more or less soft, and easily removed. 

 As incubation proceeds portions of this outer layer wear away, and 

 the egg presents an appearance somewhat as depicted in PI. VIII. 

 fig. 1. In many cases this outer layer is preserved intact and becomes 

 much discoloured, as depicted in PI. VIII. fig. 3. Some specimens 

 are without any chalky covering, and they are then of a beautiful 

 blue colour as represented in PI. VIII. fig. 2. In every large series 

 eggs of all three types will be found. 



The eggs of the various species of Cormorants resemble each 

 other very closely and cannot be separated, except in a few cases, 

 by dimensions. It is therefore unnecessary to attempt to describe 

 them in detail. 



Genus PHALACROCORAX, Brits. 



Phalacrocorax carbo (Linn.). 



Carbo cormoranus, Thien. Fortpflanz. ges. Vog. tab. xciii. fig. 1 (1845-54). 



Phalacrocorax carbo, Baedeker, Eier Eur. Vog. tab. 54. fig. 2 (1855-(J3) ; 

 Heivitson, Eggs of Brit. Birds, ii. p. 471, pi. cxxx. fig. ii (1856) ; 

 Dresser, Birds Eur. vi. p. 151 (1879) ; Legge, Birds Ceylon, pp. 1.182, 

 1223 (1880) ; Seebohm, Brit. Birds, iii. p. 650, pi. 34 (1885) ; Gates 

 ed. Hume, Nests 8? Eggs 2nd. B. iii. p. 270 (1890) : Seebohm, Eggs of 

 Brit. Birds, p. 70, pi. 19. fig. 2 (1896) ; Grant, Cat. Birds B. M. xxvi. 

 p. 340 (1898) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 232 (1899) ; Campbell, Nests fy 

 Eggs Austr. Birds, ii. p. 971 (1901). 



The eggs of the Common Cormorant measure from 2-2 to 2*9 in 

 length, and from 1*4 to 1'75 in breadth. 



1. North America (Smiths. Inst.). Salvin-Godman Coll. 



2. Svarte Vogel Bay, Greenland, July Voj. H.M.S. 'Discoverv.' 



(C. Hart). 

 1. Greenland. Seebohm Coll. 



1. Breachy, Co. Donegal, 15th May Seebohm Coll. 



(H. Saunders). 



2. Fair Island, Orkneys. E. M. Nelson, Esq. [P.]. 

 2. Farn Islands. W. Thorburn, Esq. [P.J. 

 6. Farn Islands, June. Seebohm Coll. 



9. Farn Islands, June (H. Seebohm : Seebohm Coll. 



Hargitt Coll.). 

 8. Farn Islands, 6th June (E. Hargitt). Seebohm Coll. 



