162 



TOTIPALMATI SWIMMERS — STEGANOPODES. 



somp variation in the shade of green of the plumage : in some specimens it is niucli 

 more rusty than in others. 



Mr. H. W. llenshaw states that this bird occurs in large numbers all along tlit; 

 coast of Southern California, and that it probably extends its range northward into 

 Oregon. He saw many of this species in May in San Francisco Bay, and found tliciu 

 congregated in great nundiers on the islands in Santa Barbara Channel — most of tlic 

 places selected as nesting-sites being inaccessible. At low tide he succeeded in enter- 

 ing one of the gloomy caverns, where a dozen pair had established themselves. Tlic 

 nests were merely collections of weeds and sticks nuatted together, and placed ujxm 

 the rocky shelves sufficiently high to be out of the reach of the tide. This was on 

 the 4th of June, and all the nests contained young in a downy state. The old birds 

 all forsook the place, and flew wildly about the entrance, but without attempting to 

 re-enter, though the ytmng birds kept up a continuous vociferous calling. In flyiiij^ 

 about the island the old birds passed witliin easy gunshot of the rocky points, but 

 never ventured over the land. The constant habit of this S})ecies is to spend tlic 

 morning in fishing ; and then, having appeased its hunger, to sit in groups on tin; 

 cliffs which immediately overhang the sea — often in sudi nund)ers as to blacken 

 the rocks. When disturbed, those nearest to the edge drop into the water ; wliih; 

 those in the rear scramble forward in tlie most awkward manner, and having made 

 the plunge, swim beneath the surface until they liave gained a safe distance. 



Eggs of this bird in the Smithsonian Collection (Xo. 2035, obtained by Dr. Can- 

 field on the coast of California; and Xo. 6ir>6, taken on tlie Faralloaes by Mr. 

 Gruber) vary from 2.20 to 2.25 inches in length, and from 1.35 to 1.45 in breadtli ; 

 and are not distinguishable by any specific characteristics from the eggs of any other 

 species of Cormorants. 



Phalacrocoraz urile. 



THE BED-FACED CORMORAHT. 



Red-faced Cormorant, or Shag, Pesn. Arct. Zool. II. 1785, 584 (Kanitsohatkn). — Lath. Syiiop 



VI. 178.5, 601. 

 I'ehcamis uri/c, Gmel. S. N. I. 1788, 575. — Lath. Ind. Oni. 11. 17!tO, 888. 

 Pluilacrocorax urile, Bosat. Coinpt. Keiid. XLII. 185(i, "liG (piirt). 

 Phalaerocorax bicristaiiiH, Pall. Zoog. Kosso-As. II. 1826, 301, pL 75, fig. 2. — IUdgw. Nom. X. 



Am. n. 1881, no. 647. — Couks, 2d Check List, 1882, no. 7.">7. 

 Graculiis bicrista/us, (iUAV, Ocn. B. III. 1845. — Haiisd, Tr. Cliioiigo Ac. I. 1860, 321, pi. 33.— 



CouEs, Key, 1872, 304 ; Check List, 1873, no. 534; in Elliott's Alaska, 1875, 192 (Pribvlof 



Lshtnds). 

 Urile bicrUtatm, BoKAP. Consp. 11. 1855, 175 (part). 



Hab. Prybilof, Aleutian, and Curile Islands, and coast of Kanitschatka. (Said to occur ii1m> 

 in Japan and Formosa.) 



Sp. Char. Similar to P. pelagicus, but slightly larger, and the base of the culnien crossed \>\ a 

 strip of naked skin, connecting that of the lore.s. Adult, in full breediiitf-plumagc: Head and ncik 

 deep silky steel-blue (nmch less purplish than in pelmjicm), the tufts dull silky brownish bottlt - 

 green or bronzy-purplish ; lower parts silky metallic bottle-green ; scapulars and sides of the back 

 silky dark metallic violet-purple (much more purple than in peUujictis) ; middle of the back (lon- 

 gitudinally), dark bronzy green ; rump and upper tail-coverts similar to the luwei- parts ; wiiii;-* 

 similar to the scapulars, but duller, the lesser coverts more bronzy. Primaries brownish black ; 

 tail deep dull black. Flanks covered by n large patch of silky white lilainentous feathers. Neck 

 and rump with scattered, linear, filamentous pure white feathers (soon cast). Maxilla dusky, tlic 

 base, as well as that of the mandible (which is light-colored) bright blue (in life) ; bare skin round 

 ba.se of bill, light scarlet ; legs and feet deep black ; iris light green. Adult, in winter: Similar, 



