I3O BRITISH BIRDS. 



A few birds still breed on the lochs in certain parts of 

 the Highlands, but to rest of British Isles it is merely a 

 visitor (but by no means a rare one) in the autumn and 

 winter months. It preys entirely upon fish. 



ORDER STEGANOPODES. 



Family Pelecanidae. 



GENUS C. PHALACROCORAX, Brisson (1730). 



Bill moderately long, straight, compressed, upper 

 mandible much hooked at tip. Nostrils basal, concealed. 

 Face and chin naked. Wings and tail moderate. Feet 

 placed far back ; tarsus short ; three toes in front, one on 

 inner side of tarsus, all united for whole length by a web. 



185. Phalaeroeorax earbo (Linn.). CORMORANT. 



Hab. Palasarctic region and Eastern Nearctic region. 



Adult : crown and nuchal crest black, with a number of 

 narrow white feathers interspersed ; feathers of back and 

 wing-coverts deep brown, edged with black, and with 

 glossy reflections ; wing-quills and tail black ; upper throat 

 and region behind eye white ; entire under-side bluish- 

 black, excepting a patch of white on each flank ; bill pale 

 brown ; bare skin of chin which forms a slight pouch, 

 yellow ; iris green ; feet and webs blackish. Length 34*00. 

 In autumn slightly lengthened crest-feathers are lost, as 

 are also white patches on flanks. Young : above brown ; 

 below mottled with white and pale brown ; iris brown. 



Found breeding (usually in colonies) on all our rocky 

 coasts. Nest : usually on rock-ledges, and composed of 

 a pile of sea-weed, sticks and grass. Eggs : often 3 ; 

 shell pale blue and fairly smooth, but concealed by a 

 chalky incrustation which can be scraped off with a knife \ 

 size 270 by r6o. Feeds entirely on fish. 



