CORMORANT ROCK. , igs) 
period, or even before. If such a conclusion is admissible it 
would show an occupancy of certainly one hundred and sixteen 
years, and possibly for a longer period, as well known local 
names are preserved, when feasible, in order to avoid confusion. | 
There is, however, other evidence of long occupancy of still 
greater interest to the ornithologist, in the fact that I dis- 
covered, on careful examination, that many of the projections 
of the rock on the mesa top, which afford good standing places, 
had apparently been worn smooth and glossy by long use.” 
There are two species of Cormorants that frequent this rock, the 
Double-crested (Phalacrocorax dilophus) and the Common 
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo.) The former being most 
common during the migrating season and the latter the perma- 
nent winter resident. Although a few of these birds may be seen 
around this rock at any time of the fall, winter and early spring, 
they can best be studied toward sundown when they come to it to 
roost for the night,.from Narragansett Bay and its rivers. Before 
alighting, the first arrivals fly around the rock in a suspicious way 
and do not alight until they have encircled it several times, 
but those that come later, alight at, once without hesitation, the 
presence of their companions who have already lit, no doubt 
inspiring them with confidence. During the winter months when 
the Cormorants frequent the rock, large numbers of gelatinous 
balls or pellets are to be found on the rock. They average about 
an inch in diameter and consist of a mass of vertebrae and other 
bones of fishes which the Cormorants are unable to digest and 
which they eject in this form. They are of particular interest as 
showing the food of the Cormorants. Mr. S. Garman of Harvard 
University has been good enough to examine a number of them 
and has identified the bones as belonging to Porgies (Archosaugus 
probatocephalus Walb.), and (Micropogon undulatus Linn.), young 
parrot fishes (Zaériods) , drums (Scienoids) , and Crabs ( Cancer irro- 
ratus). When the snow and ice have disappeared and the warm 
lengthening days of spring .add that indescribable charm to all 
nature, the lonely Cormorants leave their winter home and follow 
the retreating ice line north, as far as Labrador. Here they 
breed and accustom their young to all the hardships of life in 
northern waters. But Cormorant Rock is not left long unoccu- 
