BLACK CORMORANT. 
469 
GENUS I. GRACULUS. THE CORMORANTS. 
Gen. Ch. Resemble those given under Family heading. Bill, hooked at tip. Sexes, similar. There are two species 
within our limits. 
GRACULUS DILOPHUS. 
Black Cormorant. 
Graculus dilophus Gray, Gen. Birds; 1845. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Cii. Form, rather slender. Size, medium. Narrow line of filamentous feathers behind eye, elongated. Color. 
Adult. Black throughout, with greenish reflections, becoming ashy-brown on center of feathers of body above, glossed 
with purplish. Iris, pale green, eyelids, blue, spotted with white, naked space about head, orange, bill, black, banded 
with blue and white, feet, black. Youn< and nestlings. Dark brown throughout. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Under the present heading is described both the formerly called dilophus et Floridanus, the former is stated to have 
whitish feathers over the eye, but this is not constant and I consider it only a northern form of the species which is so com¬ 
mon in the South. Known by the general dark colors. Distributed in summer from the Gulf of Mexico, northward; winter¬ 
ing in Florida. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 26*38; stretch, 48 - 00; wing, 11'50; tail, 6 - 10; bill, 
250; tarsus, 2’32. Longest specimen, 31*00; greatest extent of wing, 53‘00; longest wing, (2'00; tail, 7'00; bill, 3-00; tarsus, 
2 55. Shortest specimen, 21"75; smallest extent of wing, 43’00; shortest wing, 11 '00; tail, 5* 15; bill, 2‘00; tarsus, 210. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on trees or rocky cliffs, composed of sticks, sea-weeds, etc. Eggs , three or four in number, oval in form, 
and greenish-blue in color, covered with a calcareous deposit. Dimensions from 1‘35 x 2'25 to l'50x2'50. 
HABITS. 
The collector in Florida soon learns the position of every buoy or stake that stands in 
the water for they are generally ornamented by a Cormorant, but these wary birds know 
how to take care of themselves and it is seldom that one can be approached near enough to 
be shot. Even while nesting, they are very sh} r , and whenever a rookery is approached, 
all the birds rise, circle about in confusion for a short time, then retreat a few hundred 
yards and settle down in a compact body on the water, nor will they return until they are 
sure that the intruder has departed. I found the newly deposited eggs of the Black Cor¬ 
morants on the Florida Keys, about the twentieth of March, and the birds continued to lay 
from that time until the middle of April. Late in May, the black, downy young are near¬ 
ly fully grown but still remain in the nest as they are comparatively helpless, being una¬ 
ble to fly, and are regularly fed by the parents. When approached at this season, however, 
they display all the wariness of the old birds, for after disgorging the contents of their stom¬ 
achs, as is the custom with the young of many fish eating birds when disturbed, they will 
drop from the nests or limbs on which they perch, into the water, for the base of the trees 
in which their homes are placed, are nearly always submerged, after which it is almost im¬ 
possible to secure one as they dive and swim both beneath and on the surface with the 
greatest ease. The Cormorants move with a steady, prolonged flight, during which the 
mouth is held open as if for air. If shot at, when flying, and not injured or alarmed by a 
suddjen shout, they will very frequently drop into the water, diving as soon as they strike 
it. When wounded, they are exceedingly fierce, biting with such force that it is danger¬ 
ous to attempt to capture one; in fact, I have seen them seize an oar and not relinquish 
their hold until lifted quite out of the water. In leaving a perch, it is noticeable that the 
Cormorants fly downward, almost to the water, then rise ’again to pursue their course. I 
found the Black Cormorants breeding on Shagg Rock, named from the local appellation of 
