ZOOLOGY. 267 



Family P H AL A C EOC OR A C ID A E.-T h e Cormorants. 



Graculus, B o n a p . 

 GRACULUS DILOPHUS, (Sw.) Gray. 



Double-crested Cormorant. 



Felecanus (Carlo) dihphus, Sw. Fauu. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 473. 



Phalacrocm-ax dUohpus, Ncir. Man. II, 1831, 483.— AuD. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 420 : V. 1839, 628.— Ib. Syn. 1839, 



302.— Ib. Birds Am. VI, 1844, 423 ; pi. ccccxvi. 

 Graculus dilophus, Gray, Gen. of Birds, 1845. — BoN.Cons.Av.il, 1855, 172. — Baibd & Latvkence, Gea. Rep. 



Birds, 877.0 

 Carvo dilophus, Game. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc.Phil. 2d Ser. I. 1849, 247. 

 Sp. Oh. — Greenish blacli ; behind each eye a recurved crest of loose feathers ; gular sac orange ; second quill longest ; tail 

 of twelve feathers. 



Aduli. — The plumage of the head, neck, lower part of the hack and entire under surface is greenish black, the feathers of 

 the upper part of the back, the wing-coverts, the scapularies and tertiaries, grayish brown or dark ash, the margins of which 

 are greenish black ; primaries blackish brown, lighter on the inner webs ; the secondaries dark grayish brown ; tail black, as 

 are also the shafts ; running from the bill over the eye k a line of white filamentous feathers, there are also a few of the 

 same character sparsely distributed over the neck ; behind each eye is a tuft of rather long slender feathers, erect and curving 

 forwards ; bare space in the region of the eye, and gular sac orange ; upper mandible blackish brown, with the edges yel- 

 lowish ; lower yellow, marked irregidar with dusky ; iris bright green ; legs, feet, and claws black, claw of the middle toe 

 pectinated. 



Length, 34 inches ; extent, 51.50 ; wing, 13 ; tail, 6.75 ; bill, 2.85 ; tarsus, 3.50 ; outer toe and claw, 4 ; Inner, 2.50 ; 

 hind, 1.75. 



Hab. — Atlantic coast from Labrador to Carolina; fur countries ; Pacific coast from Washington Territory to California. 

 TIio double-crested cormorant is very common during spring and fall, in the larger rivers of 

 the Territory, west of the Cascade mountains, where they generally sit on some snag or stump in 

 the water watching for fish, or sunning themselves like vultures after eating, with their wings 

 half-spread. They are very watchful, and rarely let a boat approach within gunshot, though 

 they often stupidly fly close to it, after stai'ting off. In winter they abound in the open bays 

 and mouths of rivers, but in summer appear to retire to more northern regions. I have never 

 heard them make any sound. When wounded they swim and dive so rapidly that it is useless 

 to pursue them. They roost on cliffs and trees at night. — C. 



Rather common on Puget Sound, where I obtained a specimen in February, 1856. Individuals 

 of this species are fond of alighting on drift logs, and thus float about with the tides and 

 currents, apparently greatly enjoying their mode of travel. 



Immense numbers of cormorants are found in flocks on the rocky islands near Bellingham 

 bay.— S. 



GRACULUS VIOLACEUS, (Gmelin,) Gray. 



Violet*Greeu Conuoraut. 



Pdecams violaceus, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1789, 575. 



Graculus violaceus, Gray, Gen. of Birds, 1845. — Baird & Lawrence, Gen. Kep. Birds, p. 881. 



Phalacrocorax resplendem, Ann. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 148.— Ib. Syn. 1839, 304.— Ib. Birds Am. VI, 1843, 430 ; pi. 



ccccxix. 

 Urik bicristatus, BoN. Cons. Av. II, 1855, 175. 

 Sp. Ch. — Violet-green ; narrow white feathers are sparingly distributed on the sides of the neck and hind part, and sides 

 of the body ; gular sac orange. 



Aaull. —Crown and sides of the head dark bluish green, gradually blending with the beautiful violet blue of the hind head 

 and entire neck ; back, rump, wings, and other plumage of a rich deep green ; axillars, sides under the wings, and thighs 



