THE FLORIDA CORMORANT. 
147 
when speaking of the crests or appendages of Cormorants, nor do they last 
more than a few weeks, as is also the case in the Egrets and Herons. 
Phalacrocorax Florid anus, Florida Cormorant , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 387 ; 
vol. v. p. 632. 
Male, 29i, 46i. 
Constantly resident in the Floridas and their Keys, and along the coast to 
Texas. The young in summer pass up the Mississippi and Ohio, returning 
in autumn to the sea. Abundant. Breeds on trees only. 
Adult Male in spring. 
Bill about the length of the head, rather slender, somewhat compressed, 
straight, with the tip curved. Upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly 
concave, until near the tip, when it is decurved, the ridge convex, and 
separated from the sides by a narrow groove, the sides erect, convex, the 
edges sharp and straight as far as the unguis, which is strong, convex above, 
incurved, acute. No external nostrils when full grown. Lower mandible 
with the angle long and very narrow towards the end, filled by an extensible 
membrane, which extends a short way down the throat, its dorsal line a little 
convex, the sides erect and convex, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip 
compressed and obliquely truncate. 
Head rather small, oblong, narrowed before. Neck long and slender. 
Body rather full, depressed. Feet short, stout, placed far behind ; tibia 
feathered in its whole length ; tarsus very short, strong, much compressed, 
covered all round with scales, of which the anterior and lateral are large 
and sub-hexagonal, 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 
rather small, strong, compressed, acute, rounded above, arched, 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 narrow loose glossy margins. From behind the eye to 
the length of an inch and a half on each side, a line of extremely slender 
loose elongated feathers. 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 ; primaries very strong, curved, rather narrow, tapering and 
obtuse, second longest, third almost equal, first longer than fourth ; secon- 
daries decurved, broad, broadly rounded, the inner narrower. Tail of 
moderate length, very narrow, much rounded, or cuneate, of twelve narrow 
rounded feathers, having extremely strong shafts. 
