CORBIORANT. 
61 
black, intermixed with narrow white feathers, forming a crest 
on the occiput; the chin and pouch are blue with yellow 
spots ; the lower frontal part of the face, surrounding the 
pouch and gape are white, the lower part of the neck and 
entire under parts are greenish or bluish-black, according 
to the light, except a round white patch above the joint 
of the leg. The quills and tail black; the back and 
wing-coverts are brown, with rose and purple reflections, 
and each feather is distinctly margined with deep velvet 
black; the beak is yellowish-brown, with a horn-coloured 
tip; the legs and feet are black; the eyes emerald-green; 
the lore greenish-yellow. 
The plumage of the female and male in winter are 
similar to the summer plumage above described, except 
that the head is black with blue reflections, like the under 
parts of the body, and the crest is entirely wanting. 
The young bird of the year has the upper plumage, 
including the top of the head, dusky-brown; the lower 
part of the face white, as well as the belly ; the breast 
is yellowish-brown ; and the thighs, vent, and under tail- 
coverts, dusky; the eyes brown; the beak and pouch 
yellow. 
In all stages the shafts of the tail-feathers are as strong 
as whalebone, which enables the Cormorant, not only to use 
the tail as a rudder under water, but also to rest on it 
when on shore. 
The egg figured 286 is that of the Cormorant. 
