66 NESTS AND EG&S OF 



In Eastern North America the - ouble-crested Cormorant or "Crow Duck" Is a 

 common species, breeding on the coast from the Bay of Fundy northward and in 

 many of the inland lakes, reservoirs and marshes. It is said to have nested years ago 

 In Ohio, at the Licking County Reservoir, and otner similar places in the northern 

 part of the State. Mr. Walter Raine found nests of the Double-crested Cormorant, 

 built on the ground, on a small island of Shoal Lake, Manitoba, in the second week 

 of June. The ground was' dotted all over with tiie eggs of White Pelican, Herring 

 Gull and of this Cormorant. He states that the Cormorants' npsts were made of 

 twigs and weeds.* 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. Frazer 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 com- 

 posed of sea weed 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 tnis 

 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. cario. 



120a. FLORIDA CORMOBASTT. Phalacrocorax dilophus floridanus (Aud.) 

 Geog. Dist. — 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 itt 

 Florida and along the Gulf coast, where it nests in communities 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 ob- 

 served 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 

 a^id 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, 2.28x 

 1.38, 2.36x1.45, 2.25x1.40, 2.51x1.50, 2.42x1.40. 



1206. WHITE-CRESTED CORMORANT. Phalacorcorax dilophus cincinatus 

 (Brandt.) Geog. Dist. — West coast of North America, south to California. 



The late Maj. Charles E. Bendire met with this variety of Ihe Double-crested 

 Cormorant breeding In large numbers on several low, narrow islands of Lake 

 Malheur, in the southwestern portion of Oregon. The birds began to lay about the 

 20th of April. The islands were also occupied by White Pelicans and Great Blue 

 Herons as breeding places. 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 

 tiile and coarse grasses, and placed very close to the water's edge, so that when the 

 lake was rough the water must have splashed into many of them. The eggs, four or 

 five In number, are described as being of an elongated oval, pale green, covered more 

 or less with chalky coatings. They average 2.42x1.48. Major Bendire states that 

 the largest set in a number exhibits the following measurements: 2.86x1.60, 2.70x 

 1.65, 2.66x1.64, 2.70x1.60. A single egg was found measuring 1.80xl.20.t 



• The Oologist, XII, pp. 3-6. 



t Ornithologist and Ooloelst, VII, p. 188. 



