BLACK COKMORANT. 469 



CKNTS I. GRACULUS. TIIE CORMORANTS. 



<|IN. Cu. Resemble those given under Family heading. Bill, hooked at tip. Sezes, similar. There are two species 



within our limits. 



GHAOULUS DILOPHXJS. 



Black Cormorant. 

 Gracului dilophui GRAY, Gen. Birds; 1845. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. Cu. Form, rather slender. Size, medium. Narrow line of filamentous feathers behind eye, elongated. COI.OR. 

 Adult. Itlaok throughout, with greenish reflections, hemming ashy-brown on center of feathers of body above, glossed 

 with |iur]iUsli. Iri<, pale green, eyelids, blue, spotted with white, naked space about head, orange, bill, black, banded 

 with blue and white, feet, black. Ymmi and nestling*. Dark brown throughout. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Under the present heading is described both the formerly called dilophut et Floridanus, the former is stated to have 

 whitish feathers over the eye, but this is not constant and I consider it only a northern form of the species which is so com- 

 mon in the South. Known by the general dark colors. Distributed in summer from the Gulf of Mexico, northward; winter- 

 ing in Florida. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 26'38; stretch, 48-00; wing, 11 50; tail, O'lO; bill, 

 2'50; tarsus, -J-S-J. I, invest specimen, 3L'0;); greatest extent of wing, 53-00; longest wing, Id'(X); tail. 7'(Kt; bill, 3-00; tarsus, 

 2 55. .Shortest specimen, 2T75; smallest extent of wing, 43'00; shortest wing, ITOO; tail, 5-15; bill, 2'00; tarsus, 2-10. 



INSCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nfsls. placed on trees or rocky clifls, composed of sticks, sea-weeds, etc. Eyyi, three or four in number, oval in form, 

 and greenish-blue in color, covered with a calcareous deposit. Dimensions from I'35x2'25 to I'50z2'50. 



HABITS. 



The collector in Florida soon learns the position of every buoy or stake that stands in 

 the water for they are generally ornamented by a Cormorant, but these wary birds know 

 how to take care of themselves and it is seldom that one can be approached near enough to 

 be shot. Even while nesting, they are very shy, and whenever a rookery is approached, 

 all the birds rise, circle about in confusion for a short time, then retreat a few hundred 

 yards and settle down in a compact body on the water, nor will they return until they are 

 sure that the intruder has departed. I found the newly deposited eggs of the Black Cor- 

 morants on the Florida Keys, about the twentieth of March, and the birds continued to lay 

 from that time until the middle of April. Late in May, the black, downy young are near- 

 ly fully grown but still remain in the nest as they are comparatively helpless, being una- 

 ble to fly, and are regularly led by the parents. When approached at this season, however, 

 they display all the wariness of the old birds, for after disgorging the contents of their stom- 

 achs, as is the custom with the young of many fish eating birds when disturbed, they will 

 drop from the nests or limbs oji which they perch, into the water, for the base of the trees 

 in which their homes are placed, are nearly always submerged, after which it is almost im- 

 possible to secure one as they dive and swim both beneath and on the surface with the 

 greatest ease. The Cormorants move with a steady, prolonged flight, during which the 

 mouth is held open as if for air. If shot at, when flying, and not injured or alarmed by a 

 sudden shout, they will very frequently drop into the water, diving as soon as they strike 

 it. When wounded, they are exceedingly fierce, biting with such force that it is danger- 

 ous to attempt to capture one; in fact, I have seen them seize an oar and not relinquish 

 their hold until lifted quite out of the water. In leaving a perch, it is noticeable that the 

 Cormorants fly downward, almost to the water, then rise again to pursue their course. I 

 found the Black Cormorants breeding on Shagg Rock, named from the local appellation of 



