NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



67 



120c. TAEALLONE CORMOBANT. Phalacrocorax diloplms albocUiatus 

 Ridgw. Geog. Dist.— Coast of California, south to Cape St. Lucas and islands of the 

 coast of Mexico. 



This bird is as common on the Farallones as Baird's Cormorant, and it nests on 

 the rough ridges or points of rocks overlooking the islands. About the first of May 

 they may be seen carrying weeds and dry sea kelp to their nesting sites 

 where they construct a flat, loose and bulky platform, which is, on the whole, 

 quite a shallow structure. Their nesting is similar to that of other Cormorants, and 

 they may be observed sitting on their empty nests for hours at a time, probably, as 

 Mr. Emerson suggests, for the purpose of working out the hollow of their nests with 



120c. A Cormorant Rookery on the FARiLLONE Islands. (From 7%? Nidologist ) 



their large feet, for which purpose they are so well suited. By the middle of the 

 month they have begun to deposit their lime covered eggs. These compare well 

 with those of Brandt's Cormorant, and are a little larger than the eggs of Baird's. 

 A set of five in Mr. Emerson's possession measure as follows: 60x50, 61x39, 62x39, 

 C0x40, 62x39 mm.* respectively;^ these were taken May 20, 1886; their general form 

 is rather ovate oval, and quite round at the greater end. Their color and general 

 characteristics are the same as those peculiar to other Cormorants' eggs— light 



* 8.36x1.57, 2.40x1.54, 2.44x1.54, 2.36x1.57, 2.44x1.54 inches. 



