GRACULIDiE. 861 



Bonaparte subdivides them into several genera. 



Gen. Gracclus, Linnaeus. 



Syn. Carbo, Meyer — Phalacrocorax, Brisson. 



Char. — Bill moderately long, slightly raised at the base, the tip 

 well hooked ; nostrils, a small narrow line, apparently not pervious ; 

 under mandible truncated ; orbits and throat more or less nude ; 

 tail moderate or rather long, of 14 stiff feathers, cuneate ; wings 

 rather short. 



There are three species in India. The first two on our list 

 belong to Bonaparte's Phalacrocorax, are of large or moderate size, 

 the beak large, the 2nd quill the longest, and the tail moderate, 

 of 14 feathers. 



1005. Graculus carbo, Linn^us. 



Bltth, Cat. 1744 — Carbo cormoranus, Meyer — Jerdon, Cat. 

 395 — Gho-gur, H. — also Pan-how al, or Pa?i-howa } H. — Bonta- 

 hahi, Tel. — Gould, Birds of Europe, pi, 407. 



The Large Cormorant. 



Descr. — Black, the feathers of the back, scapulars, and wing- 

 coverts, bronze colour with black edges ; face, sides of the head, 

 and chin, white, and a white spot on the thigh-coverts. In breeding 

 plumage the male bird assumes a lot of white hair-like feathers on 

 the neck, very conspicuous in some examples, less so in others. 



Bill brownish; irides sea-green; facial skin pale greenish ; gular 

 pouch deep yellow; feet black. Length 32 to 34 inches ; extent 

 60 ; wing 14; tail 1\ ; bill at front 2^ ; tarsus 2^ ; middle toe 3^. 



The large Cormorant of Britain is found throughout India, is 

 more rare towards the south, and is there chiefly found in rivers 

 that run through forest and hilly ground, but occasionally occurs in 

 large tanks in the open country. In the north of India it appears 

 more common, especially in the well-watered province of Bengal 

 where it chiefly frequents rivers, and on rivers within the Hima- 

 layas. It is rather s*range that it is not included in Gray's List of 

 Hodgson's Nepal Birds. It is very generally found in pairs or 

 singly, occasionally four or five together. I am not aware if it 

 breeds in this country, but it probably does so in suitable spots. 



