BIRDS—PHALACROCORACIDAE—GRACULUS. 
87,5 
Family PHALACROCORACIDAE. 
Ch.—B ill rather moderate, culmen concave, tip much hooked and acute ; nostrils not perceptible ; wing-s moderate and 
pointed ; tail rather short and rounded ; tarsi short; toes long and all joined by full webs ; gular sac capable of considerable 
expansion. 
I have included all the Cormorants inhabiting our territory in the genus Graculus. They are 
placed in several genera by Prince Bonaparte, as may he seen by the synonomy given with each 
species. 
GRACULUS, Linnaeus. 
Graculus, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1135. Type Pelecanus carbo, L. 
Ch—B ill rather slender, of moderate length, with the culmen concave, hooked at the tip, the sides compressed and grooved ; 
nostrils not visible in the adult; wings moderately long and pointed, second and third primaries longest; tail moderate and 
graduated at the end ; tarsi short and much compressed ; toes long and full webbed ; a leathery pouch at the base of the lower 
mandible, which can be much distended. 
These birds exist abundantly in all parts of the globe. They are mostly found on the 
sea-coast, breeding on rocky ledges difficult of access, and also on trees. They are exceedingly 
expert in catching fish, being very active in the water, and capable of remaining under its 
surface for a great length of time. 
The following characters will distinguish the eight species of this genus inhabiting North 
America: 
Bluish black ; bill strong ; gular sac yellow, the lower margin encircled by white feathers ; 
the gular sac is divided through the centre longitudinally by a line of white feathers, which 
extends for a short distance beyond the base of the lower mandible between the crura ; shafts 
of tail and quill feathers greyish blue at base, becoming black at the end; feathers of the hind 
neck elongated... G. carbo. 
Dark green ; gular sac orange ; on the neck long filamentous straw colored feathers ; a patch 
of white on each side above the thighs ; shafts of tail feathers white. G. perspicillatus. 
Shining greenish black ; bill short, strong, and rugose ; a line of white feathers over the 
eye, prolonged behind, and curling downwards. G. cincinnatus. 
Greenish black ; bill strong ; gular sac orange ; a large tuft of feathers on each side the 
crown; shafts of tail feathers black..... G. dilophus. 
Greenish black ; bill rather strong ; gular sac orange, its lower part of a rounded form, the 
same as in “dilophus;” crests consisting of a line of feathers on each side the crown, and 
curving downwards; shafts of tail feathers black... G. floridanus. 
Purplish black ; bill moderate ; gular sac dull orange, margined with pure white, its lower 
margin forming an arched line across the throat; long white linear feathers on the neck ; 
shafts of tail feathers black. G. mexicanus. 
Deep green ; bill moderately strong ; gular sac blue, encircled with a broad band of brownish 
drab or fawn colored feathers ; from the lower margin of the gular sac the feathers project for 
