298 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



PELICANS PREPARING TO FEED THEIR YOUNG BY REGURGITATION. 



vors to. oust their companion and se- 

 cure the coveted place at the source of 

 food supply. 



Another interesting episode in peli- 

 can life is the exchange of parental du- 

 ties while the birds are incubating their 

 eggs or brooding young in the nest. 

 Both parents take part in these duties, 

 and the exchange of places upon the 

 nest is accompanied with the most pro- 

 found "bowing and scraping," wing- 



flapping and other emotional perfor- 

 mances. Preliminary salutations of 

 this sort are well shown in the picture 

 of the two birds on the old stump. 

 Both birds ma}' be seen with wings 

 partially spread and facing each other. 

 Then, after due respects are mutually 

 paid, pardons apparently asked and 

 granted, and promises made to be faith- 

 ful in each other's absence, the bird 

 which is to relieve the one on the nest 



"PRELIMINARY SALUTATIONS." 

 Getting ready to exchange places upon the nest. 



