PLATE 



XIII. 



PHALACROCORAX ST I CTOCEPH ALUS (Bonaparte). 



LITTLE BLACK CORMORANT. Genus : Phalacrocorax. 



f I iHLS species was classified by Bonaparte as Microcdrbo Stictocephalus ; it is found most commonly in 

 the southern parts of Australia. It is the smallest member of the genus found in Australia, and 

 frequents more the fresh water creeks and lagoons of the interior than the sea coast. It is often to be 

 seen perched on the gum trees fringing the creeks, and in all main essentials it resembles the other 

 varieties of the genus. Five to ten or twenty are usually to be seen in company, often perching on the 

 snags, or dead timber, protruding from the waterholes. 



Its food consists, as with the rest of the Cormorants, entirely of fish, frogs, etc., in the pursuit 

 of which it shows great skill and speed under water. 



The sexes are alike in colour and size. 



Throat, neck and under surfaces, greenish-black ; crown of the head, upper surfaces, wings and 

 tail, blue-black : the head is marked with numerous small white elongated spots ; irides, green ; orbits, deep 

 blue-grey : bill, dusky grey ; legs and feet, black. 



Habitats : Southern parts of Australia. 



