^2 ZIETZ—Note on the Little Blarh Cormorant. 



Note on the Little Black Cormorant (Nesocarbo 

 ater — Lesson). 



By F. R. Zietz, Ornithologist, S,A. Museum. 

 (Contribution from the S.A. Museum.) 



In January, 1911, the Museum received from Mr. E. Ashby 

 three nests and two nestlings of the Little Black Cormorant, 

 which he obtained in a swamp about twenty miles above Man- 

 num, on the River Murray. They were taken out of a dead 

 Eucalypt which contained thirty-two nests of the same species. 



The two young birds which are nearly as large as an 

 adult, have their wings and tail feathered, whilst the neck, 

 body, and posterior third of the head, are covered with black 

 down. The anterior two thirds of the head and the whole of 

 the throat are naked, the clothed portion reaching a little 

 beyond the ears. The naked skin of the crown is reddish 

 brown, becoming lighter on the sides of the head, and yellow- 

 ish on the throat. A black line extends from a little below 

 the ear to the base of the bill, passing through the eye, a 

 black spot is present on the lower mandible immediately 

 below the eye. 



The only naked skin on the head of the adult is a leaden 

 grey patch surrounding the eye, and a similarly coloured area 

 at the base of the lower mandible. Mathews states* "The 

 immature bird differs from the adult in being more or less 

 brown on the head, sides of face, foreneck and chest; and 

 white-tipped plumes on the head much less numerous. ,? 

 Apparently his immature specimens were fully fledged, in 

 which case the greater portion of the head and throat had 

 already been covered with feathers. 



This naked condition of the head and neck in the nest- 

 lings seems to be a provision by nature to avoid the soiling of 

 the plumage when the young birds insert their bills into the 

 gullet of their parents when being fed. 



*Birds of Australia, by Gregory M. Mathews, Vol. IV, 

 pt. 2, p. 175. 



