THE WHITE-TUFTED CORMORANT. 
233 
603. PHALACROCORAX FUSCICOLLIS. 
THE WHITE-TUFTED CORMORANT. 
Phalacrocorax fuscicoUis, Steph. Gen. Zool. xiii. pt. i. p. 91 ; Legge., Birds Ceylon, 
p. 1182 ; Hume ^ Dav. S. F. vi. p. 496 ; Butler, S. F. vii. p. 178 ; Hu7ne, S. F. 
viii. p. 116 ; Oates, S. F. x. p. 248. Phalacrocorax sinensis, Stejjh. Gen. 
Zool. xiii. pt. i. p. 96. Graculus sinensis {Shaw)*, Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 862 ; 
Hume, Nests mid Eggs, p. 660 ; Butler, S. F. iv. p. 33. Graculus fuscicoUis, 
Bl. B. Burm. p. 164 ; Oates, S. F. v. p. 170. 
Description. — Male in breeding-plumage. The whole plumage deep black 
glossed with blue and green ; the feathers of the back, scapulars and wing- 
coverts brown with broad black margins ; a tuft of decomposed soft white 
feathers,, about an inch in lengthy on either side the head just behind the 
ear-coverts ; a few very minute specks of white on the forehead^ over the 
eye and on the lower neck. 
The female in breeding -plumage differs from the male in wanting the 
white tufts on the side of the head. 
In nonbreeding -plumage there is a band of white immediately next the 
naked gular skin^ the white tufts and white specks on the head are 
altogether wanting, and the cheeks and fore neck are brownish. 
Iris green ; naked skin of the head yellow ; feet and claws black ; upper 
mandible blackish, lower whitish. 
Length 25 inches, tail (of twelve feathers) 6*6, wing 10'8, tarsus 1*7, bill 
from gape 3*4. The female is of the same size. 
I am of opinion that, as above stated, the female in the breeding- 
plumage differs from the male in wanting the white tufts on the sides of 
the head ; but I am not quite certain of the fact. 
The White-tufted Cormorant is very abundant, and resident in the 
streams which intersect the plain between the Pegu and the Sittang rivers ; 
but in other portions of Pegu I did not meet with more than a few birds. 
Mr. Davison noticed it in the creeks between the Sittang and Salween 
rivers ; and it will probably be found in small numbers in most parts of 
the Province. 
It extends through the Indo- Burmese countries, and is found over the 
greater portion of the Indian peninsula. 
The habits of this species are precisely the same as those of P. carbo. 
I found it breeding in the swamps at Myitkyo in July ; the nests were 
built on reeds near the surface of the water. 
* The Pelecanus sinensis, Shaw, is undoubtedly the large Cormorant of China. Pele- 
canus sinensis, Lath. (Ind. Orn. Siippl. p. Ixx) is said to have twelve rectrices, and the 
description would apply as well to the present species as to any other ; but it is said to be 
- very common in China, and to be the species used by the people for fishing*. No one has, 
however, met with this Cormorant in China in recent years. 
