THE WATER REPELLENCY AND FEATHER STRUCTURE OF CORMORANTS, PHALACROCORACIDAE

Abstract

A study of the feather structure of cormorants was conducted in an attempt to interpret the habit of wing-drying after a period in the water. The results show that the dimensions and special arrangement of the barbs are different from those in ducks. This feature is directly responsible for a lesser extent of water repellency as encountered in cormorant feathers.