54 NESTS AND EGGS OE 



county Reservoir, and other similar places in the northern part of the 

 State. 



On some of the rocky islands of the lakes and large, isolated 

 bodies of water in Iowa and Wisconsin, this Cormorant breeds in great 

 numbers. Mr. Frazar met with colonies of it breeding on the islands 

 and cliffs along the coast of Labrador. The nests were placed on 

 ledges of the rocks ; they were composed of seaweed and kelp, freshly 

 pulled from the bottom of the ocean. None of the nests contained 

 more than four eggs. On the islands of inland waters this Cormorant 

 often constructs its nest on low spreading trees. The eggs in number 

 range from two to four; bluish-green in color, with the usual chalky 

 substance over their surface; sizes vary from 2.09 to 2.27 long by 1.35 

 to 1.50 broad. The eggs are of a more regular oval than those of P. 

 car bo. 



120a. Phalacrocorax dilophus florldanus (Aud.) [643fl.] 



Florida Cormorant. 



Hab. Coasts of the South Atlantic and Gulf States, northward in the interior to Southern Illinois. 



A smaller and more southern variety of the Double-crested species ; 

 resident in Florida and along the Gulf coast, where it nests in com- 

 munities on the mangrove islands. The nests are always placed in 

 mangrove bushes and are composed of the twigs and very often lined 

 with the leaves of this plant. 



Mr. Stuart has often observed nests made entirely of the branches 

 of the mangrove, with the green leaves still on them. In the vicinity 

 of Tampa and Charlotte Harbor the birds nest in May and June, and 

 below Cape Sable in the months of October and November The 

 eggs are three or four in number. Six selected specimens measure 

 2.30x1.43, 2.28x1.38, 2.36x1.45, 2.25x1.40, 2.51 X 1.50, 2.42x1.40. 



120^. Plalacrocorax dilophus cincinatus (Brandt.) [643(5.] 



'White-crested Cormoraut. 



Hab. West coast of North America, south to California. 



Captain Charles E. Bendire met with this variety of the Double- 

 crested Cormorant breeding in large numbers on several low, narrow 

 islands of L/ake Malheur, in the southwestern portion of Orec^on. The 

 birds began to lay about the 20th of April. The islands were also occu- 

 pied by White Pelicans and Great Blue Herons as a breeding place. 



About two-thirds of the Cormorants' nests were made on the 

 ground, and they were composed of pieces of drift, small sticks, etc. 

 The balance were placed on low greasewood bushes. They were lined 

 with pieces of bark and tule and coarse grasses, and placed very close 



