130 
THE COMMON CORMORANT. 
round with scales, of which the outer are sub-hexagonal, the inner trans 
versely elongated, the posterior very small and roundish. Toes all placed in 
the same plane, and connected by reticulated webs, covered above with very 
numerous oblique scutella ; first toe smallest, fourth longest. Claws strong, 
curved, compressed, acute, that of the Third toe pectinated on its inner edge. 
Plumage of the head, neck, lower parts, and posterior portion of the back, 
glossy, blended, and silky ; of the fore part of the back and wings compact, 
the feathers with loose glossy margins. The middle feathers of the occiput 
and hind neck are elongated, and those of the head and upper neck are 
intermixed with numerous linear feathers of a different colour, and erectile 
at will. Space around the eye, and to a large extent along the base of the 
bill, together with the small gular sac, bare. Wings rather small; prima- 
ries very strong, curved, rather narrow, tapering and obtuse, third longest, 
second almost as long, first little shorter ; secondaries decurved, broad, 
broadly rounded, the inner broad and shorter. Tail small, much rounded, 
of fourteen narrow, rounded feathers, having extremely long shafts. 
Upper mandible greyish-black, along the edges yellowish-white ; lower 
yellowish-white at the base, dusky towards the end. Iris light bluish-green, 
margins of eyelids dusky. Bare space about the eye dull olive, below it 
bright red, the gular sac yellow. Feet and claws greyish-black. All the 
silky part of the plumage is black, glossed with deep greenish-blue ; at the 
base of the gular sac is a broad gorgelet of white, and the linear interspersed 
feathers over the head and upper neck are white, there is also a large parcel 
of elongated white feathers on the side over the thigh. The feathers of the 
wings and part of the back are dull bluish-grey glossed with bronze, their 
fringe-like margins greenish-black. Primary quills greyish-black, secondary 
like the other feathers of the wing. Tail greyish-black. The shafts of all 
the feathers are black at the end, leaden-grey towards the base. 
Length to end of tail 37 inches, to end of claws 36 ; to end of wings 32.; 
extent of wings 62 ; wing from flexure 14 ; tail 63 ; bill along the ridge 3 T 5 2, 
along the edge of lower mandible 4 T 2 2 ; tarsus 2i ; outer toe 3W, its claw 
Weight 7i lbs. 
Female in July. 
The female when old is similar to the male. In the state here repre- 
sented, the plumage in general is similar, but the white feathers of the head 
and thighs are wanting. The bill, eyes, and feet are coloured as in the 
male, as are the bare parts about the base of the bill, only the part under 
the eye which is bright red in the male, is bright yellow in the female. 
Young birds unfledged. 
The inside of the mouth and the gular sac flesh-coloured ; the bill dusky, 
