Plate LXIV. 



Fig. 9. PHALAGROCORAX DILOPHUS FLORIDANUS-Florida Cormorant. 



The Florida Cormorant is properly an inhabitant of the South Atlantic and Gulf States, coming north 

 however to the Ohio, and perhaps somewhat farther. Dr. Wheaton says, speaking of this species: 

 "Spring and fall migrant in Western Ohio, summer resident in some localities. Breeds." 



It probably arrives here along with other aquatic birds about April, building its nest in May or early 

 June. It is certainly a rare bird now; I have myself never seen its nest. 



LOCALITY: 



Cormorants are found in the greatest abundance in the neighborhood of some permanent body of 

 water, such for instance, as some of the State reservoirs; they are also found occasionally along any of 

 the larger rivers. The nest is usually built in a tree, or, in places where trees are not available, upon 

 a rocky cliff. The latter would seem to be the more natural locality, but at the reservoirs a dead tree 

 partially submerged seems to be the favorite nesting site. 



POSITION : 



When in a tree, the nest rests in a fork formed by several large branches at no great distance from 

 the ground. When on a rocky cliff, it is placed upon a bare horizontal shelf. In the building season 

 the birds form rookeries, a great many nests often being within a small space. 



MATERIALS ; 



The materials of construction are very simple, consisting merely of a few dry sticks, loosely laid 

 together in the' fork of some convenient dead branch, or of marsh grass, or something of^that nature, when 

 the nest is built on a rock. But in either case it is a rude affair and entirely exposed. 



EGGS: 



The complement of eggs is three or four. They are ovoid in form, greenish-blue in color, and are 

 covered with a peculiar deposit of dirty white lime. They measure in long-diameter from 2.25 to 2.50, and 

 in short-diameter from 1.38 to 1.60. A common size is about 1.50 x 2.35. 



DIFFERENTIAL POINTS : 



The eggs are altogether unique in appearance, certainly a partial compensation for their extreme 

 homeliness. Usually there is some small spot upon the shell where the greenish-blue background shows 

 through the outer calcareous deposit, but if this does not exist the lime covering can easily be scraped off 

 with a knife, so as to show the true shell. 



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