CORMORANT ROCK. 



19 



period, or even before. If such a conclusion is admissible it 

 would show an occupancy of certainly one hundred and sixteen 

 years, and possibly for a longer period, as well known local 

 names are preserved, when feasible, in order to avoid confusion. 

 There is, however, other evidence of long occupancy of still 

 greater interest to the ornithologist, in the fact that I dis- 

 covered, on careful examination, that many of the projections 

 of the rock on the mesa top, which afford good standing places, 

 had apparently been worn smooth and glossy by long use." 

 There are two species of Cormorants that frequent this rock, the 

 Double-crested {Phalacrocorax dilophus) and the Common 

 Cormorant (^Phalacrocorax carbo.) The former being most 

 common during the migrating season and the latter the perma- 

 nent winter resident. Although a few of these birds may be seen 

 around this rock at any time of the fall, winter and early spring, 

 they can best be studied toward sundown-when they come to it to 

 roost for the night, from Narragansett Bay and its rivers. Before 

 alighting, the first arrivals fly around the rock in a suspicious way 

 and do not alight until they have encircled it several times, 

 but those that come later, alight at once without hesitation, the 

 presence of their companions who have already lit, no doubt 

 inspiring them with confidence. During the winter months when 

 the Cormorants frequent the rock, large numbers of gelatinous 

 balls or pellets are to be found on the rock. They average about 

 an inch in diameter and consist of a mass of vertebrae and other 

 bones of fishes which the Cormorants are unable to digest and 

 which they eject in this. form. They are of particular interest as 

 showing the food of the Cormorants. Mr. S. Carman of Harvard 

 University has been good enough to examine a number of them 

 and has identified the bones as belonging to Porgies {Archosaugus 

 probatocephalus Walb.), and {Micropogon undulatics Linn.), young 

 parrot fishes {Labriods) , drums (Scicenoids) , and Crabs (Cancer irro- 

 ratus) . When the snow and ice have disappeared and the warm 

 lengthening days of spring add that indescribable charm to all 

 nature, the lonely Cormorants leave their winter home and follow 

 the retreating ice line north, as far as Labrador. Here they 

 breed and accustom their young to all the hardships of life in 

 northern waters. But Cormorant Rock is not left long unoccu- 



