154 TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS — STEGANOPODES. 



top, and two and a half feet at the base. The eggs — three or four in number — aver- 

 aged 2.50 by 1.56 inches, were of an elongated form, and were covered with a white 

 calcareous coating, showing when removed a fine light greenish blue tint underneath. 

 The young when just hatched are of a bluish black color tinged with purple, and are 

 blind for several days. In this condition they are fed by the parents, with the great- 

 est care, with prepared food, regurgitated into their open throats. Afterward they 

 become covered with long down of a brownish black. Their eggs are not deemed fit 

 to eat, and are never gathered by the fishermen. 



Dr. Bryant found this Cormorant breeding in company with P. carlo on the rocks at 

 Wapitaguan ; but not by any means present in such large numbers as was the last-named 

 species, with the nests of which the northern part of the breeding-place was exclusively 

 occupied. Though early in the season, there was hardly a trace of the crest remain- 

 ing on any of the birds. Their nests were as bulky as those of the common species, 

 and it was probably not uncommon for the old nest of the one species to be occupied 

 by the other during a later season. As a general thing this Cormorant preferred the 

 lowest ledges, although the highest nest of all was of this species. Where the ledge 

 was long enough to admit of several nests, it was generally occupied by one and the 

 same species. In one or two places near the summit, where the rock was broken in 

 such a way as to present a series of little niches, the two species seemed to alternate 

 in position, as if intentionally, they being evidently on terms of perfect friendship, 

 while no differences could be detected in their habits or movements. The eggs — 

 four in number — were of a more regular oval than those of P. curho, but otherwise 

 similar to them in appearance, the difference in size of the eggs of the two species 

 being by no means proportioned to the difference in size of the birds themselves. At 

 the time of Audubon's visit, none of the present species were seen at Wapitaguan, 

 and he says that he found them breeding only on fiat rocks. Four eggs selected by 

 Dr. Bryant as typical of their variations in length and breadth give the following 

 measurements : 2.26 by 1.36 inches ; 2.13 by 1.51 ; 2.09 by 1.42 ; 2.20 by 1.45. 



Captain Bendire in his visits to Lake Malheur, in Eastern Oregon, met with a large 

 breeding-place of this Cormorant. Most of the nests were on the ground; about one 

 third were on bushes not over three feet high ; and the remainder on rubbish piles 

 not more than six inches above the ground. The young birds when about two weeks 

 old were still devoid of down or feathers, their skin being of a deep glossy black, and 

 altogether presenting a very curious appearance. The eggs — usually five in number 

 — are described as being of an elongated oval, pale green with chalky coatings, their 

 average size being 2.42 by 1.48 inches. The nests were composed of coarse sticks, 

 abou.t fifteen inches in diameter, shallow, and lined with a few strips of bark and 

 pieces of tide, and were usually raised a few inches above the ground, and placed close 

 to the water. The birds began to lay about the 20th of April. 



Eggs of this species (Smithsonian Institution, No. 12718) are of the usual glaucous- 

 white color of eggs of this family, and measure from 2.30 to 2.55 inches in length, 

 and from 1.40 to 1.45 in breadth. These were obtained by Mr. Donald Gunn at 

 Shoal Lake. This Cormorant was also found breeding in the Selkirk Settlement by 

 Mr. Gunn, and at Sitka by Mr. Bischoff. 



Birds of this species which are resident in Florida were considered by Audubon to 

 be specifically distinct from dilophus ; but beyond a slight difference of size, they 

 bear so close a resemblance to the more northern birds as to render it somewhat 

 doubtful whether they can be separated even as a race. There are probably no very 

 noticeable differences in the habits and movements of the two forms, other than what 

 may be occasioned by the differences of conditions resulting from living in a partially 



