144 



TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS — STEGANOPODES. 



Family PHALACEOCOEACIDiE — The Cormorants. 



Char. Bill small (shorter than the middle toe), variable in outline, but the 

 maxillary unguis always prominent and strongly hooked ; nostrils obliterated ; 

 lores, orbital region, lower jaw, chin, and upper part of throat naked. Middle too 

 longer than, or about equal to, the tarsus, the outer toe much longer, and the inner 

 about as nnicli shorter. Wings rather short, concave, reaclung but little beyond 

 the base of the tail ; tail variable as to length, usually rounded or graduated, the 

 feathers stiff, with very rigid shafts, which are exposed almost to the base of the 

 tail, on account of the much abbreviated coverts. Plumage very compact, usually 

 dark-colored and glossy. 



Genus FHALACROCORAZ, Bkisson. 



Pt'hcnnun, LiSN. S. N. 1758 ami 1760 (part). 



Phalncrocorax, Biusk. Oi'ii. VI. 1760, .511 (tj'pp, Pclccantis carbo, LiNN.). 



Cirbi), l.Acf.v. Mem. do I'liist. 1800-1801. 



Urilc, BoxAi'. Coiisp. II. 18yC, 175 (type, Pckcnmis urUe, Gmel.). 



HaUcus, Ilmo. Pi-odr. 1811, 279. — Hokap. t'onsp. II. 1856, 177 (typ, Hydrocorax melanoleucus, 



ViEIU..). 



Hydrocorax, ViEii-L. Analyse, 1816, 63. 



araucahis, GiiAY, List Oen. 1841, 101. 



Graculns, Ouay, Oen. 15. III. 1845, 667. 



Ilypoknciui, REior. 1853 (type, Pclcmum vnriitu, Omki..). — Bon'ap. Consp. II. 1856, 173. 



Stic/ocnrbo, Bosat. " 1854," Consp. II. 1856, 174 (type, Pelemtius puuclitlus, Cmki.. ). 



Mkrocarbo, " Bonap. 1856" (typo, Pluilacrocoriuc pyymoius. Pall.). 



Chau. Same as those of the fiiniUy. 



Note. — As in the case of the gemis Pelecanus, it is quite likely that a systematic investijjation 

 of the Cormomuts will eventually re<iuire a sulKlivisioii of the genus Phulacrocorux, as here defined. 



Synopsis of North American Cormorants. 



A« Bill robust, the maxillary unguis arched and strongly hooked, the culmeu slightly concave in 

 the middle portion, and gently ascending bosuUy. (Phalacrocorax.) 

 a. Tail-feathers fourteen, 



1. P. oarbo. Size large (largest of the genus). Adult, with white patch adjoining base nf 



the gular pouch ; rest of head, neek, and lower parts blue-black ; back and wing-coverts 

 grayish brown, feathers bordered with black. In breeding-season, head covereil with 

 white filaments, occiput with a short niane-like black crest, and flanks with a large white 

 ]iatch. Hah. Europe, and Northeastern North America. 

 6. Tail-feathers twelve. 



2. P. dilophuB. Usually smaller than P. carhn. Adult, greenish blue«black, the back ami 



wings slaty brown, feathers bordered with black. In breeding-season, crown with a lull 

 on each side (behind eye) of lengthened, curved, narrow black or white feathers, llah. 

 Whole of North America. 



3. P. mezioauuB. Very small (wing less than 10.50 inches). /lrfHi<, brownish black, willi 



a white lino lumlering the base of the gular pouch ; mantle dull l)rownish slate, tin' 

 feathers narrowly bordered with black. In the hreeding-seasnn, liead, neck, and anal 

 region ornamented with scattered small white filaments. Hab. Mexico, Cuba, ami 

 Boulhern Ijoitler of United States, north to Kansas and Southern Illinois. 



