152 
VIOLET-GREEN CORMORANT. 
fourth longest. Claws rather small, strong, compressed, acute, convex above, 
arched, that of the third toe pectinated on its inner edge. 
Plumage silky, being very soft, blended, and highly glossed. Feathers of 
the head and neck oblong, of the other parts ovate and rounded. The small 
gular sac, and the space before and beneath the eye, with the eyelids, bare. 
Wings rather small, broad ; primaries curved ; in the only individual in my 
possession, in which they are not fully developed, the first is an inch and 
four and a half twelfths shorter than the second, which is longest, but 
exceeds the third only by a twelfth ; secondaries broadly rounded. Tail 
of moderate length, very narrow, much rounded or cuneate, lateral feathers 
being an inch and ten-twelfths shorter than the middle ; the feathers, twelve 
in number, are narrow, with very strong shafts. 
Bill dusky, gular sac and bare skin about the eyes orange. Iris light 
green. Feet black. The general colour of the plumage is deep green, seem- 
ing black in some lights, and bright green and purple in others. Along the 
sides of the neck and the hind part of the sides of the body, are scattered 
numerous white piliform feathers, terminated by a pencil of filaments. The 
quills and tail-feathers are brownish-black, and less glossy. 
Length to end of tail 27 inches ; bill along the ridge Iff, along the edge 
of lower mandible 2 T 8 2 ; wing from flexure 10 ; tail 5£; tarsus 1 T 9 2 ; hind toe 
its claw second toe l r 7 2 , its claw ; third toe 2i, its claw T \ ; fourth 
toe 3 t S 2, its claw W- 
