deeply immersed. Now and then, should it apprehend danger, it sinks so
far as to shew only the head and neck, in the manner of the Anhinga.
When searching for food in clear shallow water, they frequently swim
with the rump rather elevated, and the head under, in the manner
of the Shoveller Duck on such occasions, as if they were looking
for prey on the bottom; but I never observed them act thus when the
depth of water exceeded a few yards. They secure their prey by diving
and pursuing it under water, with the wings partially extended and
employed as paddles, while the tail directs their course, and checks
or accelerates their speed. I have observed this in the Florida
Cormorant, as well as in the present species. I never saw one while
flying plunge after its prey; but I have repeatedly seen them drop
from a rock headlong into the sea when shot at for the purpose of
observing their actions.
Cormorants, Pelicans, Ducks, and other water birds of various kinds,
are, like land birds, at times infested with insects which lodge
near the roots of their feathers; and to clear themselves of this
vermin, they beat up the water about them by flapping their wings,
their feathers being all the while ruffled up, and rub or scratch
themselves with their feet and claws, much in the same manner as
Turkeys and most land birds act, when scattering up the dry warm earth
or sand over them. The water birds after thus cleansing themselves
remove, if perchers, and able to fly, to the branches of trees, spread
out their wings and tail in the sun, and after a while dress their
plumage. Those which are not perchers, or whose wings are too wet,
swim to the shores, or to such banks or rocks as are above water, and
there perform the same process. The Florida Cormorant is especially
addicted to this practice, and dives and plumes itself several times
in the day. The Double-crested and the present species, which inhabit
colder regions, seem to be satisfied with less frequent trimming, and
go through the operation only once a-day, at the warmest period. I
never observed any of these birds in their natural free state perform
these actions in rainy or even cloudy weather, but have frequently
seen Cormorants in a state of captivity do so on small artificial
ponds, such as those of the London Zoological Gardens.
When they have landed after cleansing themselves by washing, they
usually extend their wings, and flap them for a while, in the manner
of young birds of any kind when trying the strength of their wings
before leaving the nest. They are extremely regular in returning to the
same places to roost, at the approach of night, when hundreds appear
to congregate on their way there, as they pass over the different
fishing grounds. Those that have no broods, spend the night apart
from the rest, standing nearly erect in files on the most elevated
shelves, to which they ascend in the manner of some Hawks, when about
to perch on any elevated spot. In winter, however, I observed some near
Boston roosting singly, and immediately over their fishing places,
which are usually the eddies under the projecting points of rocky
islands. They are shy and wary at all periods; but when congregated
in the day, it is almost impossible to approach them while fishing,
for they dive and return to the surface one after another, so that
one or more are constantly on the watch, and act as sentinels. It is
in general quite useless to pursue one that has been wounded.
The flight of this species is strong, swift, and remarkably sustained.
They usually fly in long strings, now and then forming angles, at a
moderate elevation in the air. When on the rocks, they stand erect
on their rump, with the neck gracefully curved, and resting between
the shoulders. You may see them in hundreds, when they look like a
crowd of black dominoes. If alarmed, they extend their neck to its
full length, and move their head sideways to observe your motions;
and if you approach them, they gradually raise and extend their wings,
elevate the tail, incline the body forwards, and fly off in silence.
All our Cormorants feed principally on fish of various kinds. When
they have seized one that is too large to be swallowed entire, they
carry it to the shore, or to the branch of a tree, and there thrash
and tear it to pieces. Some fishes which they have swallowed evidently
incommode them, and on such occasions I have sometimes seen them
shake their heads with great violence, and disgorge the fish, or pass
it downwards into the stomach. The young ones which we kept several
weeks at Labrador, performed both actions, but generally the first.
All the species are expert at tossing up a fish inconveniently caught,
a foot or so above their head, and receiving it in their extended
gullet, in the same manner as the Frigate Pelican, of which an account
will be given in the present volume. Some which I have observed in a
domesticated state, were so expert at receiving a fish thrown to them
from the distance of several yards, by a sudden and precise movement
of the neck and head, as seldom to miss one in a dozen.
The courtship of this species is so similar to that of the Florida
Cormorant, that I consider it unnecessary to describe it, as I should
merely repeat what has been said with respect to that species. I
have seen them act in the same manner, both on the shelves on which
the nests were placed, and on the water. They begin to lay about the
first of June, on the islands near the Bay of Fundy, about a fortnight
later in Labrador, and it is my opinion that the younger birds spend
their breeding season in the former places.
The Common Cormorant walks in a waddling and awkward manner, but at
a good pace, and leaps from one stone to another, assisting itself
with its wings, and occasionally with the tail, which acts as a kind
of spring. I am unable to say at what age this species attains the
full dress of the love season, but it cannot be in less than three
years, as some which I have known to have been kept in a state of
constant captivity, did not shew the white patch on the thigh, nor
the slender white feathers around the head and part of the neck,
until the middle of May, in the fifth year. That the younger birds of
this and other Cormorants, breed before they have acquired the full
beauty of their plumage, is a fact which I have had many opportunities
of ascertaining. The Common Cormorant is found breeding, both near
the entrance of the Bay of Fundy, and along the coast of Labrador,
in flocks of fifty or more pairs, of which not an individual shews
any white unless on the sides of the head, and along the throat,
but much duller on these parts than even in the female represented
in the plate, which was yet what may be termed an immature bird. No
differences appear in the garb of the sexes, in their different states
of plumage, and perfect specimens of both are equally beautiful in
the breeding season, being then similar to the male of which I have
endeavoured to present a good portrait. I have observed a greater
difference in size between individuals of this species, than those
of any other.
The white markings observed on the old birds of this species, during
the period of courtship, incubation, and rearing of the young until
they are able to fly, and which extends to two months and a half,
begin to disappear from the moment incubation has fairly begun, and
at the time when the young leave the nest scarcely any remain, unless
on the sides of the head. In autumn and winter the feathers of the
head are similar to those of the neck, and the plumage in general has
lost much of its vernal and æstival beauty. The entire crest also
falls off in autumn. The white markings and the crest are renewed
in the wild state about the end of February; but in birds kept in
domestication rarely before May. The young do not exhibit the crest
until the second spring, at which period, being yet destitute of white
markings on the head and thighs, they might readily be mistaken for
a different species, by a person unacquainted with their habits.
The singular fact that the young of the three species of Cormorant
described in this volume, have _open nostrils_ until they are nearly
half-grown, may surprise you as much as it surprised me. Having
observed it in many individuals, I preserved one in spirits, and of
it you will find a description beneath.
The Common Cormorant is rarely seen farther south than the extreme
limits of Maryland; but from Chesapeake Bay eastward, it becomes more
plentiful; and in severe winters, I have seen it exposed for sale in
the New York market. They are abundant in winter around the islands
of the Bay of Boston, and on the coasts of Massachusetts and Maine,
where most of them remain during autumn, winter, and the early part of
spring, as well as on the Bay of Fundy and along the shores of Nova
Scotia. I am unable to say how far north they go beyond Labrador, to
breed, or what may be the limits of their range on the St Lawrence
in autumn. I have never seen one on a tree, or on fresh water. The
flesh of this species is dark, tough, and fishy, its eggs also do
not furnish agreeable food, and it is seldom that either are eaten,
even by epicures.
PELECANUS CARBO, _Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 216.—_Lath._
Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 886.
PHALACROCORAX CARBO, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of
the United States, p. 402.
CORMORANT, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 479.
Adult Male in March. Plate CCLXVI. Fig. 1.
Bill about the length of the head, rather slender, somewhat compressed,
straight, with the tip curved. Upper mandible with the dorsal line
sloping and slightly concave, at the tip decurved, its ridge broad and
rounded, and separated from the sides by a narrow groove, the sides
erect, irregularly scaly, convex, the edges sharp and straight as far
as the unguis, at the base a distinct horny plate, the unguis 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 short dorsal line a little convex, then concave, the sides
scaly, erect, and slightly convex, the edges sharp and inflected,
the tip compressed and obliquely truncate.
Head rather large, oblong, narrowed before. Neck long and stout.
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 outer are
subhexagonal. the inner transversely 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; primaries 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 6-1/2; bill along
the ridge 3-5/12, along the edge of lower mandible 4-2/12; tarsus 2-1/4;
outer toe 3-7/12, its claw (6-1/2)/12. Weight 7-1/2 lb.
Female in July. Plate CCLXVI. Fig. 2.
The Female when old is similar to the male. In the state here
represented, 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. Plate CCLXVI. Fig. 3, 4.
The inside of the mouth and the gular sac flesh-coloured; the bill
dusky, at the base flesh-coloured; the eyes bluish grey. The general
colour of their skin is dull livid; the feet purplish-dusky, the webs
yellowish-brown.
The following is a description of the smaller individual represented
in the plate, and which was about two weeks old. The length is
twelve inches and a half; the colour dull livid, the abdomen and
breast lighter, the forehead, gular sac, and bases of the mandibles,
flesh-colour tinged with yellow, as is the mouth. The head and
upper part of the neck are bare, as well as the lower surface of
the wings. Over the rest of the body are small down tufts rising in
regular series, excepting along an impressed line extending from the
anterior part of the thorax to the anus. The apertures of the ears
are round, extremely small, being only half a twelfth in diameter;
the eyes very small, the iris grey. The aperture of the posterior
nares is linear-lanceolate, smooth on the edges, half an inch long. A
probe introduced into it passes readily out by the nostril, which is
basal, linear, small, two-twelfths long, placed at the commencement
of the long groove which separates the sides from the ridge of the
mandible, and covered above by the skin, so as to be not readily
observed, although it is easily dilatable. Each internal nostril is
oblique, much wider below, and has on its inner side a transverse soft
ridge, which divides it into two cavities, the posterior deep and
funnel-shaped, passing backwards and upwards, the anterior becoming
narrower towards the external aperture. The tongue is extremely
small, four-twelfths long, elliptical, with a central ridge. The
œsophagus is extremely dilatable, and as far as the middle of the
neck is of larger diameter than below, but it again dilates as it
enters the stomach. Its length is five inches and a half. The inner
coat is smooth in its dilated part, but in the rest is raised into
numerous longitudinal ridges or folds, which at the lower part are
undulated. The stomach is oblong, four and a half inches long, quite
membranous, and without apparent central tendons. The gastric glands
are disposed so as to occupy two spaces, the one three and a half
inches by two, the other a little smaller. The inner coat is soft
and without wrinkles. The intestine is five feet two inches long,
at its upper part three-twelfths in diameter, gradually diminishing
to one-twelfth. At the distance of two inches from the anus are two
cœca, three-twelfths long, one-twelfth in diameter, and rounded. The
contents of the stomach were fragments of fish, with numerous bones,
and a pebble about half an inch in diameter. The heart triangular,
much flattened. The liver of two very unequal lobes, the right one
two inches and a half long, the other one and a half. The specimen,
which I had preserved in spirits, was examined in my presence by my
friend Mr MACGILLIVRAY. Whether the fact of the anterior aperture of
the organ of smell being open in the young Cormorant has been observed
by any other person than myself, I know not; but it would seem that
the general opinion is, that Cormorants have no external nares in any
stage, and although some state that in the adult they exist, and are
extremely small, others allege that there are none at all.
A young female, shot in the end of October, on being carefully
examined, was found to present the following characters.
The length to the end of the tail was 36 inches, to the end of the
wings 29-3/4, to the end of the outer toe 34-1/2; the extent of the
wings 55; the weight 5 lb. 10-1/2 oz.
Bill along the ridge and unguis black, the sides brownish-grey; the
lower mandible brownish-grey, dusky on the sides at the middle, the
bare skin at the base yellow, as is the gular sac. Upper part of the
head and hind neck brownish-black; the back greenish-black, its fore
part, the scapulars and the wing-coverts brownish-grey, the feathers
edged with greenish-black, and an outer margin of brownish-white, most
conspicuous on the secondary coverts; the quills brownish-black, the
secondaries tinged with grey on the outer edge; the tail greyish-black,
the shafts greyish-blue. Upper part of the throat brownish-white;
the rest of the neck greyish-white, mixed with brown; the breast and
abdomen white, the sides greenish-black; the lower surface of the
wings dusky; the lower tail-coverts greyish-brown, the feathers before
them brownish-black. The feet greyish-black; the inner edge of the
middle claws very slightly pectinated. The foot, when stretched to
its full extent, measures, from the tip of the first to that of the
fourth claw, 5-10/12 inches.
The tongue is oblong, carinate above, 7/12 long, 3/12 broad. The
palatal slit or aperture of the posterior nares is linear, 1-2/12 long,
with a soft flap on each side. The mouth is 1-5/12 wide; the bill 3-1/4
along the back, 4 along the edge of lower mandible. The aperture of
the ear is circular, only half a line in diameter.
On blowing into the posterior nares no air passes. The internal
cavities are separated by a longitudinal membranous dissepiment;
each cavity is transversely divided by a membranous partition, but
neither of the chambers thus formed has any external communication
by the mandible. The lachrymal duct, which is wide, passes obliquely
forward and downward into the anterior cavity. On gradually slicing the
horny covering of the mandible over the place where the nostril ought
to be, its position is found clearly defined, there being a slight
discontinuity of the bone at that part; but on cutting farther all
traces disappear, the original aperture being closed by ossification.
The aperture of the glottis has thick prominent rounded edges, which
unite behind and terminate in three knobs, and there is a small
transverse flap on each side behind.
The heart is triangular, depressed, obtuse, 2-1/2 inches long, its
greatest breadth 1-7/12. The liver has two very unequal lobes, the
right 5 inches, the left 3 inches long; the former 2-1/2 broad, the
latter 1-3/4. The gall-bladder is 2-1/4 long, (3-1/2)/12 in diameter,
rounded, but not much enlarged at the extremity.
The œsophagus is 22-1/2 inches long; at its upper part when dilated
upwards of two inches wide, extremely thin, its circular fibres
distinct. It is contracted in the whole length of the thorax, where
its smallest diameter is 8/12, the largest 10/12; but this part,
which in the ordinary state has its inner coat folded into numerous
longitudinal wrinkles, is capable of being dilated so as to present
a diameter of more than 3 inches, when the internal rugæ disappears.
The proventriculus seems at first to form part of the stomach; its
walls are extremely thick and studded with glandules, disposed in
two circular patches, which are separated by a space of about 3/12 of
an inch. The stomach properly so called is very small; its muscular
coat thin, but with two distinct tendons. It is of an oblong form,
compressed, and at its upper parts has a rounded lobe, from which the
intestine comes off. The inner coat is thick, soft, and rugous. The
pylorus has a circular marginal rim. The intestine, which is 8 feet
long, is at its upper part (3-1/2)/12 in diameter, towards the cœca
(2-3/4)/12. The rectum is 7 inches long, its diameter for 4-1/2
inches is 7/12; the cloaca globular, 2-2/12 in diameter; the cœca 3/12
long. The cystic duct enters one inch below the hepatic; between them
enters one of the pancreatic ducts, the other 2 inches farther up. The
distance from the pylorus to the hepatic duct is 16-1/2 inches.
The lungs extend to the kidneys. The ovules exceedingly small and
numerous. In the proventriculus and lower part of the œsophagus were
many small ascarides. The contents of the stomach were a few bones
of fishes.
Although I have not actually observed that Cormorants have the power
of disgorging such substances as they are unable to digest, I should
not be surprised to find this to be the case, when their habits are
investigated in a state of domestication.
THE ARCTIC JAGER.
_LESTRIS PARASITICUS_, BOIE.
PLATE CCLXVII. MALE AND FEMALE.
During winter this indefatigable teaser of the smaller Gulls often
ranges along our southern coasts as far as the Mexican Gulf, where
I have seen it, as well as opposite the shores of the Floridas; but
I never met with a single individual in summer, even in the most
northern parts, although I had expected to find it breeding on the
coasts of Labrador and Newfoundland. Few birds surpass it in power
or length of flight. It generally passes through the air at a height
of fifty or sixty yards, flying in an easy manner, ranging over the
broad bays, on which Gulls of various kinds are engaged in procuring
their food. No sooner has it observed that one of them has secured
a fish, than it immediately flies toward it and gives chase. It is
almost impossible for the Gull to escape, for the warrior with repeated
jerkings of his firm pinions sweeps towards it, with the rapidity of
a Peregrine Falcon pouncing on a Duck. Each cut and turn of the Gull
only irritates him the more and whets his keen appetite, until by two
or three sudden dashes, he forces it to disgorge the food it had so
lately swallowed. This done, the poor Gull may go in search of more;
the Lestris is now for a while contented, and alights on the water
to feed at leisure. But soon, perceiving a distant flock of Gulls,
he rises on wing and speeds towards them. Renewing his attacks, he
now obtains an abundant supply, and at length, when quite gorged,
searches for a place on which to alight, unseen by any other of his
tribe more powerful than himself. When on wing, its beautiful long
tail-feathers seem at times to afford this bird great assistance in
executing short sudden turns, which have often brought to my mind
the motions of a greyhound while pursuing a hare. By sudden lashings
of its tail, it can instantly turn, or arrest its flight. When it
is on the water, it keeps that part upright, but when on a rock or
a floating piece of timber, it allows it to fall in a graceful manner.