Brewster.] 394 [October 3, 



singly, or in small flocks. They were excessively shy and I had 

 great difficulty in securing two specimens, both of which proved 

 to be females. The males were distinguishable at some distance by 

 the clearer white of their throats, but I saw none which showed 

 the peculiar plumes of the neck or the white patches on the 

 flanks. In flight and general appearance this Cormorant resem- 

 bles G. dilophus, but it looks much larger, and its white throat 

 is usually a conspicuous feature. 



74. Phalacrocorax dilophus, Swains. — Double-crested Cor- 

 morant. 



Although this species was seen at various places in the Gulf, 

 we found only one breeding-station — Perce Rock near the village 

 of the same name. This remarkable island rises from the sea to 

 the height of about three hundred feet, with perpendicular, in 

 places overhanging, walls on all sides. It is nearly a thousand 

 feet long and about one-third as wide at the broadest point, 

 which is near the middle. The top slopes irregularly from either 

 end towards the middle, which is thus slightly lower than the 

 extremities. The eastern end is pierced at the base by an arch 

 about twenty feet in width and perhaps twenty-five feet high. 

 Through this arch the sea flows and small boats may easily pass 

 at high water. What was once the extreme eastern end of the 

 rock is now an isolated turret separated from the main island by 

 a narrow channel which was formerly spanned by an arch simi- 

 lar to the one just described. This turret has also an incipient 

 arch, at present only about two feet in diameter, but said to be 

 fast enlarging:. 



At the time of our visit thousands of Herring Gulls and Cormo- 

 rants were breeding on the summit of Perce Rock, and a few 

 Black Guillemots occupied the crevices near its base. 1 Viewed 

 from the sea this colony was sufficiently interesting, for the air 

 was filled with circling Gulls, and rows of Cormorants lined the 

 edge of the cliffs, sitting erect in strong outline against the sky, 

 or craning their long necks outward to get a better sight at the 

 intruders below. -But to fully appreciate their numbers it was 

 necessary to ascend a headland on the neighboring shore that 

 overlooked the rock. From this point the sight was most im- 



1 Verrill found a colony of Gannets there in 1861, but at present their nearest breed- 

 ing place is Bonaventure Island. 



