THE BIRDS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLAI^TDS. 

 Order STEGANOPODES. Totipaluiate Swiuimers. 

 Family PHALACROCORACIDAE. Cormorants. 



But one species of this family, the only one of the order, is found on the islands. 

 But there would seem to be no reason why one or more of the various species of cor- 

 morants found in Bering Sea should not wander occasionally within our limits. 



1. Phalacrocorax urile (Gmel.). Eed-faced Cormorant. "Oreel." 

 Carbo pelagicus, Coinde, Eev. et Mag. Zool. 1860, 401. 

 Graculus bicriatatiis, Dai.l and Bannister, Trans. Chic. Ac. Sci., 1869, 302, PL XXXIII. — Dall, 



Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci., 1874, 275.— Coues, in Elliott's Ept. Aff. Alaska, 1873; Reprint, 1875, 



192.— Elliott, Mon. Seal Ids., 1882, 130. 

 Phalacrocorax Mcristatus, CouES, Key, 1890, 728. — Grant, Cat. B. Br. Mus., 1898, 358. 

 Phalacrocorax urile, Nelson, Eds. Alaska, 1887, 65. — A. O. U. Ch. List, 1895, 45. — Eidgway, 

 Man., 1886, 80. 



Fairly abundant and one of the few summer birds which winter. But few breed 

 on St. Paul, the chief nesting places being on Walrus, Otter, and St. George islands. 

 They are far less abundant now than formerly. When one is in a boat some distance 

 from land and cormorants are about, several will usually alter their course to circle 

 about and inspect at close quarters. 



"As this bird is found during the whole winter, in spite of severe weather, 

 perched on the sheltered bluffs, the natives regard it with a species of affection, for it 

 furnishes the only supply that they can draw upon for fresh meat, soups, and stews, 

 always wanted by the sick; and were the shags sought after throughout the year, 

 as they are during the short spell of intensely bitter weather that occurs in severe 

 winters, driving the other waterfowl away, they would certainly be speedily extermi- 

 nated. They are seldom shot, however, when anything else can be obtained." — 

 (JElUott.) 



A somewhat critical comparison of the feather conditions of my specimens of 

 various ages has led me to doubt the correctness of the position usually assigned the 

 birds of this order in our lists. Consequently, I have examined all the specimens 

 accessible to me, not only of this order, but of most of the families of North American 

 birds. Part of the results are embodied in the present paper. 



In winter specimens in adult plumage the necks are profusely decorated with 

 long, white, club-shaped flloplumaceous feathers. Most of these drop out before sum- 

 mer, but a few are persistent and can be found on the necks, usually just below the 

 head and sometimes on the breast (fig. 6, PL XL). One of my immature (brown 

 vearling) specimens also has quite a number on the neck (flg. 7), and some of these 

 have one to several rami scattered irregularly down the rachis (flg. 8). Also on my 



373 



