232 
BIRDS OF BTMTISH BTJUMAH. 
throat ; a broad black streak from tbe eye extending over the ear-coverts 
and descending to form a collar next to the white throat-band; remainder 
of the headj the throat for about two inches below the black band^ the 
sides of the neck and the back of the neck to about six inches from the 
forehead white mixed with greenish black_, all the feathers short and 
sharp-pointed ; remainder of the neck^ the whole lower plumage^ the back_, 
rump^ upper tail-coverts and tail deep blacky glossed with blue and purple ; 
the shoulders^ scapulars and upper wing-coverts bronze^ each feather 
broadly margined with black ; coverts to primaries and the whole of the 
quills blacky glossed with bronze; under wing-coverts glossy black; a 
large white patch on the outside of the thighs. 
In the nonbreeding^plumage the white thigh-patch is absent^ and the 
whole lower plumage becomes much mixed with white in varying degrees, 
some birds having much more white than others. 
Iris green ; eyelids and the lores dusky yellow ; skin of throat and jaws 
bright yellow, or black profusely spotted with yellow ; skin under the eye 
orange ; legs and claws black ; upper mandible and tip of the lower dark 
brown ; remainder of the lower mandible white, varying to pale pink. 
Length 32 inches, tail (of fourteen feathers) 7*2, wing 13' 3, tarsus 2*3, 
bill from gape 3'8. The female is of about the same size. 
The white thigh-patch is assumed from about the first of September to 
the middle of December, and is common to both the sexes. 
The Large Cormorant is very abundant throughout the low plains of 
Southern Pegu. It occurs in all the other parts of Burmah, but is of 
comparatively rare occurrence. 
It is met with in nearly every portion of Asia, Europe, Africa and 
Australia, and it ranges to the eastern coast of North America. 
The Large Cormorant is found in large flocks, frequenting tanks, lakes 
and rivers, in the latter preferentially above tidal influence. It is a 
constant resident in Burmah, their numbers being, however, considerably 
reduced in the dry weather, some of the birds apparently migrating else- 
where as the streams and ponds dry up. I found immense numbers of 
this Cormorant breeding at Myitkyo, at the head of the Canal, in October. 
The nests, made of twigs, weeds and stalks of grass, were placed on trees 
growing in the water. The eggs, four or five in number, are very long 
and narrow, dull white in colour and very chalky in texture. 
These Cormorants associate in large flocks and feed entirely on fish. 
They spend most of their time in the water, swimming with the whole 
body submerged and catching each fish by pursuing it under water. 
When resting on land they have the habit of partially expanding their 
wings, presenting a remarkable appearance. They fly with great speed, 
but they are reluctant to take to wing. 
