394 FLORIDA CORMORANT. 



A bird of this species, which I shot near its breeding place, and which, 

 on being examined, proved to be a female, had the feathers of the tail 

 covered with delicate slender sea-weeds of a bright green colour, such as 

 I have often observed on marine turtles, and which appeared to have ac- 

 tually grown there. 



The slender feathers on the sides of the head fall off by the time in- 

 cubation has commenced, and do not appear during winter, as is alleged 

 by authors when speaking of the crests or appendages of Cormorants, nor 

 do they last more than a few weeks, as is also the case in the Egrets and 

 Herons. 



PlIALACROCOHAX FLOEIDANUS. 



Plate CCLII. Adult Male in spring. 



Bill about the length of the head, rather slender, somewhat compressed, 

 straight, with the tip curved. Upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly 

 concave, until near the tip, when it is decurved, the ridge convex, and 

 separated from the sides by a narrow groove, the sides erect, convex, the 

 edges sharp and straight as far as the unguis, which is strong, convex above, 

 incurved, acute. No external nostrils when full-grown. Lower mandible 

 with the angle long and very narrow towards the end, filled by an ex- 

 tensible membrane, which extends a short way down the throat, its dorsal 

 line a little convex, the sides erect and convex, the edges sharp and in- 

 flected, the tip compressed and obliquely truncate. 



Head rather small, oblong, narrowed before. Neck long and slender. 

 Body rather full, depressed. Feet short, stout, placed far behind ; tibia 

 feathered in its whole length ; tarsus very short, strong, much compressed, 

 covered all round with scales, of which the anterior and lateral are large 

 and subhexagonal, the posterior very small and roundish. Toes all placed 

 in the same plane, and connected by reticulated webs, covered above with 

 very numerous oblique scutella ; first toe smallest, fourth longest. Claws 

 rather small, strong, compressed, acute, rounded above, arched, that of 

 the third toe pectinated on its inner edge. 



Plumage of the head, neck, lower parts, and posterior portion of the 

 back glossy, blended, and silky, of the fore part of the back and wings 

 compact, the feathers with narrow loose glossy margins. From behind the 

 eye to the length of an inch and a half on each side, a line of extremely 



