292 
NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 
FAMILY PELECANID.E. 
Bill generally longer than the head, strong, sometimes compressed: mandibles dentate. 
Nostrils linear, often inconspicuous. Skin of the throat often naked, dilatable. Wings 
long and powerful. Feet short, robust. Toes four, long, all united by a continuous mem¬ 
brane. Tail of 12, 14 or 20 feathers. 
Obs. This family corresponds with the Steganopodes of Illiger. It contains few North 
American species. 
GENUS PHALAC11ACORAX. Brisson. 
Bill somewhat longer than the head, straight, compressed. Upper mandible with a long 
furrow on each side, rounded above, with the ridge distinct, and strongly hooked at the 
tip : lower mandible with a small naked membrane produced on the throat. Nostrils basal, 
linear, concealed. Tibia feathered. Tarsus compressed. Middle claw with the margin 
dentated. Webs broad and full. Tail much rounded, of 12- 14 rigid feathers. 
THE CORMORANT. 
Phalacracorax carbo. 
Pelecanus carbo, LinnjEUS, p. 216. Phal. id. ? Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 402.? 
Phalacorax id. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 6, p. 412, pi. 415. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p.343. 
Characteristics. Blackish. Tail of 14 feathers. Summer, a bluish black crest on the 
occiput and nape ; throat white, coming up to a point in front. Winter, 
no crest; throat dusky varied with whitish. Length, 38'0. 
Description. Bill strong, 3‘5long. Space round the eyes, and between these and the 
bill, naked. 
Color. Bill blackish, greenish yellow at the tip and base. Crown, neck, breast and all 
beneath black, with blue and green metallic reflections. Back and scapulars ashen brown, 
glossed with purple and bronze. All the feathers edged with black. Summer, a broad band 
of white on the throat, rising into a point in front. Crown and upper part of the neck with 
long slender silky white feathers: several elongated white feathers on the thighs. Tail greyish 
black; the shafts black. Young of the year : Crown, nape and back deep brown; with a 
slight gloss of green ; gular band greyish ; front of the neck and all the under parts greyish 
brown, with whitish spots intermixed ; above ash-grey, the feathers edged with deep brown. 
Length, 37-0-39’0. 
The Cormorant appears but rarely on the coast of this State, although it breeds, according 
to Mr. Nuttall, from the coast of Massachusetts northwardly. The eggs, varying from 3 to 
4, are of a uniform pale bluish green. It ranges on this coast from 35° to 53° north lati¬ 
tude, and occurs on both sides of the Atlantic. 
