DESCRIPTIVE LIST 49 



35. Phalacrocorax auritus floridanus (And.). FLORIDA CORMORANT. 



Description. Similar to the Double-crested Cormorant, but averaging smaller. L., 21.00 

 to 30.00; W., 11.25 to 12.50; T., 5.50; B., 2.10. 



Range. Breeds from North Carolina southward; winters from South Carolina southward. 

 Range in North Carolina. Coastal region in summer; breeds. 



On May 25, 1898, Pearson discovered what, so far as yet known, is the only 

 breeding-colony of these birds north of Florida. It is situated on the shores of 

 Great Lake in Craven County, and at that date contained one hundred and fifty 

 occupied nests. Although the birds are unmolested by man, their numbers since 

 that date have been slowly decreasing, and in 1908 the colony numbered only one 

 hundred and twenty nests. In 1911, however, they seemed to have regained their 

 former numbers, and no less than one hundred and fifty-nine nests were counted 

 by H. H. Brimley. In 1910 and 1911 the colony divided, the two sections being 

 situated about five miles apart on opposite sides of the lake. 



The nests are usually placed in cypress trees growing in the water at a short 

 distance from the heavily wooded shore. The site, however, has been changed four 

 times in the past twelve years, once from the north to the east side of the lake, a 

 distance of five miles, and again in 1908 to the southwest side, probably three miles 

 farther away. In this last locality the majority of the nests were placed in pine 

 trees growing on the shore. Since then the colony has moved twice more, each 

 move being into cypress trees standing in the water. The frequent change of 

 place appears to be occasioned by the fact that a few years occupancy by the birds 

 kills the trees in which they nest. 



The food of these Cormorants must consist largely of eels, as eel-remains are 

 constantly found in the nests and on the limbs of the trees, and the young when 

 alarmed disgorge copiously fragments of partly digested eels. In the summer of 

 1905 H. H. Brimley saw an immature bird disgorge a portion of a large water- 

 snake (Natrix taxispilota). 



A flock of about fifty of these birds was seen by Pearson one evening in June, 

 1899, coming to roost in Jones's Millpond in Carteret County. Perhaps this 

 number also roost each summer in the trees of Orton Pond, Brunswick County. 

 Probably these are all unmated birds. 



11. FAMILY PELECANID>E. PELICANS 



Only one genus occurs in North America. The pelicans are large, aquatic birds 

 with enormous bills. The broad space between the forks of the lower mandible 

 is occupied by a huge sack or bag of naked skin, which the bird uses when fishing, 

 somewhat after the manner of a scoop-net. 



Genus Pelecanus (Linn.) 



KEY TO SPECIES 



1. Color mainly white, with black wing-quills. White Pelican. 

 1. Color grayish and brownish. Brown Pelican. 



