62 



Field Marks. Dazzlingly white body and black wing-tips of the adult are distinctive. 

 The habit of diving from the wing, entering the water head first like an arrow, and remain- 

 ing under an appreciable length of time, is also characteristic. Terns dive from the wing 

 but they rise again almost immediately and seldom completely disappear from sight like 

 the Gannet. Moreover the great difference in size is diagnostic. 



Nesting. In large communities on the rocky shelves of sea-cliffs; nests made of 

 seaweed. 



Distribution. Both sides of the north Atlantic, breeding in Canada only on Bird 

 Rock off the Magdalen islands, and on Bonaventure island, Gaspe county, Quebec, both 

 stations being in the gulf of St. Lawrence. 



The Gannet had at one time a much wider and commoner distribution 

 than now, nesting as it did on many of the rocky islets on both sides of the 

 north Atlantic. Although of very slight value either for food or other uses, 

 except in the most primitive communities, it has been driven from one 

 breeding station after another until in the New World only two rookeries 

 remain and, unless prompt measures are taken, these will likely go the way 

 of the others. 1 



Economic Status. Though the Gannets have been accused of doing 

 considerable damage to fishing interests, their harmful effects have been 

 much overestimated. The greater part of the life of the Gannets is spent 

 on or near the deep sea. When they come inshore for breeding purposes 

 they can make very little impression on the mighty shoals of herring and 

 other fish they pursue. 



FAMILY PHALACROCORACID.SI. CORMORANTS. 



General Description. Large birds of black or very dark coloration, with bills ending 

 in a decided hook and with a small throat or gular pouch. 



Distinctions. Bill and small gular pouch are diagnostic. 



Field Marks. In life the Cormorants look somewhat like the Loons, but have a 

 distinctive wing action more easily recognized than described. In flight the Cormorant 

 carries its neck outstretched and its feet hidden under the long tail, instead of trailing 

 them behind like the Loon. On the water, it is easily recognized by its plainly visible 

 tail, and even, dark coloration. 



A cosmopolitan family, only two species of which are found in eastern 

 Canada. 



Genus — Phalacrocorax. Cormorants. 



119. Common Cormorant, fb. — lb coemoban obdinaibe. Phalacrocorax carbo. 

 L, 36. See family description previously given. 



Distinctions. With the family description in mind, this species can easily be distin- 

 guished from all but the one following. The adult of this species has a flash of white 

 at the base of the gular pouch and another on the flank. In other plumages, its superior 

 size and fourteen instead of twelve tail feathers are diagnostic. The absence of crest 

 even when adult is not a reliable guide for the determination of the species (See next 



Field Marks. Unless size or the white marks are obvious it is rarely possible to 

 separate the twot Cormorants in life. 



Nesting. Similar to that of the next species. 



Distribution. The northern parts of all three continents. In Canada, it is 

 closely confined to the eastern coast and is rarely seen inland. 



1 Since thiB paragraph was written, these localities have been constituted bird sanctuaries, and a hitherto un- 

 known rookery has been reported off the southeast coast of Newfoundland. 



