PlIAlvACROCORACID.E — THE fORMORANTS. 205 



keep the two supposed forms separate until more satisfactory 

 material can be compared. 



Accordino; to Audubon, there is a difference in tlie coloration 

 of the unff'athered parts of the head, in the breedino- season, 

 the I'loiida Cormorant having the basal margins of the upper 

 mandible l)ri<i;ht blue, the lower mandible bri<iht bhu' "curiously 

 spotted with white," and the mar<>ins of the eyelids li<>,ht blue 

 spotted with white. But as the Cormorants which I shot at 

 Pyramid Lake, Nevada, in May were thus marked with blue, 

 while those shot at Mt. Carmel, Illinois, in the spring were 

 similarly marked, it is probable that the blue eyelids, etc., are 

 characteristic of the nuptial season, and common to all the 

 g-eographical forms of the species. 



The Florida Cormorant, or at least specimens of G. dilophus 

 in no wise distinguishable from birds of the same species 

 breeding in Florida, is common in early spring on the Wabash 

 liiver as far north as Mt. Carmel, and no doubt occurs along 

 other rivers in the southern portion of the State. While I have 

 never actually found it breeding there, I have no doubt that it 

 does so. 



Phalacrocorax mexicanus (Brandt). 



MEXICAN CORMOKANT. 



Popular synonym. Sargento (Mexico). 



Carbo mexicanus Brandt, Bull. So. Acad. ^t. Petersb. iii, 1838, 55.— Gukdi,. Rop. Fis.-Nat, 

 Cuba, i, 1866, 895; J. f. 0. 1875, 401 (Cuba). 

 Graculus mericanus Bonap. Consp. il, 1856, 17.1— CouES, Key, 1872, 203; Check List, 1873, 

 No. 531; B. N. W. 1874, 588.— Snow, Cat. B. Kans. 1873, 12 (Lawrence. Kansas).-RiDGW. 

 Bull. Nutt. Orn. CI. v, 1880. 31 (Cairo, Illinois). 

 Phalacrocorax mexicanus Brewer. Proc. Bost Soc. N. H. vii. 1860, 3(»8 (Cuba).— Scl. & 

 Salv. Norn. Neotr. 18T.1 121.— Rldgw. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 644; Man. N. Am. B. 

 1887, 79.— CouES, 2(1 Check List, 1882, No. 754.— B. B. & R. Water B. N. Am. ii, 1884, 155.— 

 A. O. U. Chock List, 1886, No. 121.— Cokt, B. W. L 1S89, 272. (Cuba). 

 Phalacrocorax resplendent Lemb. Aves lie Cuba, 18-50, 119 (= adult; nee Audubon). 

 Phalacrocorax torcnsendii Lemb. Aves do Cuba, 1850, 120 [= young; nee Audubon). 



Hab. Central America, Mexico, Cuba, and southern United States, north in the Missis- 

 sippi Valley to Kansas and southern Illinois; south to Costa Rica. 



Sp. Chab. The smallest American species of the genus. Tail-feathers 12. Bill mod- 

 erately robust, the unguis ar -hed and strongly hooked, the culmcn slightly concave in the 

 middle portion and goutly ascending at the base. Bare skin of face extending farthest 

 back on side of head, forming quit* an angle behind the rictus; feathers of the throat ad- 

 vancing forward on the median line, the apex sometimes divided or indented by a slight 

 intrusion of the naked akin of the gular pouoh. Scapulars and wing-coverts narrow and 

 tapering, almost pointed. 



