PHALACBOCOEAX CAEBO. 11S5 



A Ceylonese example (January) is as follows : — Head, neck, and throat brownish black, darkening to black, glossed 

 with green, down the centre of the hind neck ; the feathers of the head narrowly edged with greyish buff, the 

 edgings increasing in width on the sides of the upper neck and down the throat, where the bases of the feathers 

 are pale tawny ; the broad white gorget extends up to the ear-coverts, where it darkens into pale brownish, and 

 round the lower edge it blends into the dark colour of the throat ; the back and rump are black, as in the adult ; 

 the light scapulars, interscapulary feathers, and wing-coverts are pervaded with grey, some of them having a dull 

 bronzy tinge, and the margins are not so intensely black as in the adult ; the quills are the same ; flanks and sides 

 of the breast black, glossed with green ; the centre of the breast and chest are mixed blackish brown and whitish, 

 tinged with ochreous, the tips of the feathers only being blackish, and the remainder ochreous, passing into white 

 at the bases ; under tail-coverts greyish, margined with black ■ on the upper hind neck and about the head there 

 are a few white " points." 



An example shot in Wales in October, probably in the 2nd year, is much blacker on the head and down the hind neck, 

 the pale margins being very fine indeed ; the scapular and wing-covert feathers are more bronzed in colour, but 

 they extend, as in the immature Ceylonese specimen, higher up the hind neck than in the adult ; the fore neck 

 is darker, but the centre of the under surface is whiter than in the aforementioned specimen ; the nape and upper 

 part of the hind neck and its sides are striated with very fine white filaments, which would therefore appear to be 

 put on in the second winter, irrespective of the larger white plumes, which would be donned in the following 

 February with the black plumage ; on the thighs there are indications of white patches in the shape of a few small 

 short white feathers. I have seen numbers of examples shot in June (just one year old in Wales) without a sign 

 of any of these small white feathers on the neck or thighs, so it is clear they are not assumed until the second 

 year ; and then they are not of the same character as those of the breeding-plumage, which is. as far as I can 

 ascertain from numerous observations made in Wales, put on, but perhaps not in all cases, in the second March 

 by birds hatched in May and June. 



Obs. As will be observed, this species varies considerably in size, the smallest race existing in India and China. 



(1875) says that he had never seen a live specimen nor a skin ever from the north-western parts of India (Sindh, Baj- 

 pootana, &c). He records it, notwithstanding, from Lower Bengal and the countries eastward, and from Jhansi, where 

 Mr. Blewitt found it breeding. In Chota Nagpur Mr. Ball met with it at Lohardugga and the Bajmehal hills ; and in 

 the above-mentioned region, from which Mr. Hume excludes it, it has been observed by Captain Butler at Mount Aboo 

 and in the plains of Gluzerat ; whilst Mr. Doig found it breeding on the Eastern Narra river in Sindh. In the Deccan 

 Mr. Wenden observed it at Nulwar, and lie thinks he saw it again in Sholapoor. 



To the eastward of Bengal it is found in Burmah on the Pegu plains, and is there, according to Mr. Oates, as 

 common as the larger species ; in Tenasserim it is local, occurring only on the tract between the Salween and the Sittang. 



As above remarked, I find no recent mention of its occurrence in China, and it is therefore uncertain whether its 

 range extends eastward of Burmah. 



Habits.— This Cormorant affects tanks, jheels, and large rivers more than the sea-coast ; in fact all mention of occur- 

 rence in the various parts of India which it frequents relates to its being found on fresh water, and not on salt. It is 

 said by Jerdon to be " generally met with in pairs or alone, but occasionally in flocks." 



The examples I saw at Tamara kulam were drying their outstretched wings in the usual manner after fishing, and 

 had taken up a safe position well out of shot ; but, notwithstanding, on my emerging from the jungle they flew off, 

 thus demonstrating their shyness. 



Nidif cation.— In Burmah Mr. Oates found the Lesser Cormorant breeding in reeds in the Myitkyo swamp. At 

 the latter end of July nearly all the nests had young birds, so that the nesting-time appears to be late in June. The 

 nests were, writes this naturalist, made of the smaller side branches of reeds, and were flat at the top, converging 

 to a point below ; they were about 9 inches across and 6 deep, supported on a few bent reeds. The eggs were five in 

 number, and resembled in colour those of the other species in India. Dimensions 1-92 to 2'15 inches in length by 



1-27 to 1-4 in breadth. ,„.,... . ., •, ■ 



Mr. Blewitt found this species breeding in low trees in flooded land m the Jhansi district ; the nests were made ot 

 sticks, and contained four or five eggs ; the average size of those taken was 2-1 inches by 1-4. 



