726 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — STEGANOPODES. 
especially considering the shape of the pouch; the skin is usually brightly colored, and some- 
times carunculate. The eyes, as a rule, are green —a color not common among birds. These 
birds are highly psilopzdic as well as altricial; the young are for some time blind, naked, and 
perfectly helpless. 
‘Twenty-five species of Cormorants may be considered established. Their study is difficult, 
owing to the great changes in plumage, the high normal variability in size, and their close 
inter-relation, which is such that the single genus Graculus does not appear capable of well- 
founded division. Species are found all over the world, excepting the uttermost polar regions, 
and are usually very abundant in individuals; they are all very much alike in their habits. 
Many are maritime, but others range over fresh waters as well. They are eminently grega- 
rious, especially in the breeding season, when they congregate by thousands —the boreal 
kinds generally on rock-begirt coasts and islands, those of warm countries in the dense fringes 
of shrubbery. They often migrate in large serried ranks. The nest is rude and bulky; the 
' eggs are commonly two or three, of elliptical form and pale greenish color, overlaid with a 
white chalky substance. The Cormorants feed principally upon fish, and their voracity is 
proverbial, though probably no greater than that of allied birds. Under some circumstances 
they show an intelligent docility ; witness their semi-domestication by the Chinese, who train 
them to fish for their masters, a close collar being slipped around the neck to prevent them 
from swallowing the booty. 
303. PHALACRO/CORAX. (Gr. gadaxpoxdpat, phalakrokorax ; Lat. phalacrocoraz, « cormo- 
rant, sea-crow, corvus marinus: gadaxpos, phalakros, bald, and xopaf, korax, a raven.) 
Cormorants. Character as above said. There appears to be but one genus in the family, 
but several groups of species may be cited subgenerically. There are three such groups among 
our species, respectively exemplified by P. carbo, P. dilophus, and P. violaceus. 
Tail of 14 feathers. aici siaadiet 
Gular sac heart-shaped behind, bordered with white eS Be ie doc lage ie! nae Dat wee carbo 750 
Tail of 12 feathers, 
Gular sac convex or nearly straight-edged behind. 
No white border behind gular sac. 
Lateral crests of curly feathers on sides of head. a 
Largest: length about 36.00. Developing white filaments on head in breeding season. 
N.W. Coast... cincinnatus 752 
Medium: length 30. 00-33. 00. Scarcely or not developing arlitte filaments on head in breed- 
ing season. At large : é . . dilophus 75% 
Small: length 30.00 or less. ' Probably not developing white filaments. S. E. Coast 
Jloridanus 753 
Small: size of the last. Developing white filaments. S.W.Coast. . . albociliatus 53a 
A border of white feathers behind the sac. 
Very small: length about 24.00 . . fs ig < ‘ mexicanus T54 
Gular sac heart-shaped behind. (No lateral crests.) 
Sac dark-blue, bordered by a fawn-colored gorget. Feathers of back distinct, dark-edged 
penicillatus 755 
Sac not bordered with a colored gorget. No distinct colored edges of feathers of back. 
Shafts of tail-feathers said to be white . . . ceer ee ae ree perspicillatus 756 
Shafts of tail-feathers not white. 
Frontal feathers not reaching bill, which is entirely surrounded with red skin; base of 
BUT bOe 2 gg lat a . 3 bicristatus TST 
Frontal feathers reaching bill. 
Larger: wing 10.00 or more . Sprig: abe a . Ss . violaceus 758 
Smaller: wing under 10.00 ...... ma at oe : . bairdi 159 
750. P.car’bo. (Lat. carbo, carbon: from the black color.) Common CorRMORANT. SHAG. 
Adult ¢ 9: Tail of 14 feathers (here only among our species). Gular sac heart-shaped 
behind. Bill blackish, whitish along edges and at base below. Iris green. Skin about eyes 
livid greenish, orange under the eye; sac yellow, bordered behind by a gorget of white 
feathers. General plumage glossy greenish-black ; feathers of back and wing-coverts distinct, 
