52 WATER BIRDS 



are fed by regurgitation — a curious process, always 

 alarming to the observer. The mother squats at the 

 side of the nest, and immediately four or five long black 

 necks are stretched up like fingers of a black kid glove 

 split at the end. These wave helplessly about, until she 

 selects one and thrusts her bill far down the split, which 

 is the throat of the young. She then violently shakes the 

 baby, thereby emptying the food from her mouth into 

 his. Later on small fish are torn and given them. 1 



123 b. BAIRD CORMORANT. — Phalacrocorax 

 pelagicus resplendent. 



Family : The Cormorants. 



Length: 34.00-40.00. 



Adults : Feathers of forehead advancing to base of oilmen ; gular sac and 

 naked lores dull coral-red or reddish brown ; head and neck glossy 

 violet-black, more purplish toward head, changing gradually through 

 green-blue to glossy bronze-green on under parts ; scapulars and 

 wing-coverts dark green, tinged with bronze. Back dark green. 



Nuptial Plumage : Neck and rump ornamented with narrow white fila- 

 ment-like feathers; flanks with a large patch of pure white. 



Young : Uniform brownish dusky, merging to grayish on head ; the 

 upper parts darker, with glossy greenish reflections. 



Dovmy Young : Covered wijh down of a uniform dark sooty gray 

 (Kidgeway). 



Geographical Distribution : Pacific coast of North America from Wash- 

 ington south to Cape St. Lucas, and Mazatlan, Mexico. 



Breeding Range : Islands near the coast of California and Washington. 



Breeding Season:- Approximately, June 1 to July 15. 



Nest : Of rock moss or kelp on ledges of perpendicular rock. 



Eggs: 4 ; pale bluish green, with lime deposit on surface. Size 

 2.19 X 1.44. 



The Baird Cormorants are less common and more 

 timid than either of the foregoing species. They may 

 1 See Farallone Cormorants. 



