PIED COKMORANT. 
eoverts blue-black like the flanks and outer aspect of the thighs ; quills and tail- 
feathers uniform black ; sides of the face, sides of neck, throat, fore-neck, and 
entire surface pure white. Bill dark horn ; bare space in front of the eye bright 
orange, eyehd and rim round the eye rich indigo-blue ; throat and cheeks light 
bluish-ash ; iris pale green ; feet black. Total length 800 mm. ; culmen 70, 
wing 324, tail 150, tarsus 66. 
Adult female. Similar to the adult male. 
Immature. This individual, which has nearly attained its fuU plumage, is conspicuous 
by having some brown feathers scattered among the white on the fore-neck and 
sides of the neck. 
Nest. Similar to that of H. v. gouldi, sometimes placed on the ground, at others in trees. 
Eggs. Clutch two, similar to those of other members of the family. Diameter 55 to 58 ; 
axis 35 to 37. 
Breeding-season. “ September to November ; March to May ” (Campbell). “ July ” 
(Carter). 
Again I have to record that practically nothing is known of the life- 
habits of still another bird. 
Mr. Tom Carter has written me : “ This fine species was abundant 
about Carnarvon, West Australia, and round the North-west Cape. They 
bred in great numbers on Fraser Island, about four miles out to sea from my 
house at Point Cloates. The nests were built in and on a species of flannel- 
leaved soft bush (Aboriginal, Toondurra-ra) that only grows in the close 
proximity of the sea or salt water. Many of the nests were touching each 
other, and they were mostly made from the ends of the branches of this bush 
with the leaves attached, having evidently been bitten and broken off by the 
Cormorants. Seaweed was also used to some extent for nesting material. 
I used to collect the eggs from this island to eat, as a change from bush diet, 
and found them excellent, without any fishy flavour. When cooked, they 
reminded me of the Plover eggs {Vanellus cristatus) which are in such request 
in England. One year I brought an almost full-grown young bird to my 
house, and it remained there for several months although it had its full 
liberty, and open access to the sea, about 500 yards distant. It used to walk 
to the beach and go out fishing for several hours daily, returning to the 
neighbourhood of the kitchen (where it obtained scraps of meat and fish 
from the cook) for the heat of the day and at sundown.” 
Mr. E. J. Christian has written me from Victoria : “ They can be seen 
here when there is plenty of water about, especially in one particular open 
swamp where there are some dead trees. Often on the swamp one sees as 
many as 50 of these birds doing nothing but perching on the limbs of these 
trees. I think that they feed on Yabbies, as there are no fish in this creek. 
On the big dam one can often be seen sitting by the edge of the water for 
hours and then suddenly he will make a dart with his long neck and catch 
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