RECORDS VOLUME XI, NOV. 1919 155 



The flight of Cormorants is direct, pro- 

 longed, and steady. As they have no exter- 

 ternal nostrils, the mouth is held open for 

 air. If shot at when flying near the surfice 

 of the water, even if not injured, or alarmed 

 by a sadden shout, they will frequently drop 

 into it and dive instantly. When wounded, 

 they are exceedingly fierce, biting with such 

 force that it is quite dangero\is to attempt 

 to capture one. In fact, I have seen one 

 seize an oar and not relinguish its hold until 

 lifted quite out of the water. In perching, 

 it is noticeable that Cormorants sit veryup- 

 risrht with the head usually held high and 

 the tail hang^ing down. 



The Florida Cormorant breeds quite com- 

 monly on a few of the Bahama Keys. April 

 30, 1884, I found three breeding places on 

 some small islands lying a few miles south 

 of Andros. Two of the rookeries were small, 

 but one was the largest of this species that 

 I ever saw and contained hundreds of nests. 

 Some of these were empty, the young prob- 



