PELECANID.E — THE PELICANS — PELECANUS. 143 



Pelecanus (fuscus?) californicus. 



THE CALIFORNIAN BROWN PELICAN. 



?? Pelecanus Molincc, Gkay, Gen. B. III. 1845 (Nomcn nudum !). 



?? Pelecanus Molince, "Gray," Scl. P. Z. S. 1868, 269. — Elliot, P. Z. S. 1869, 588, pi. 44 



(young ?). 

 Pelecanus fuscus, AiiCT. (all citations from the Pacific coast of the United States and Mexico, south, 



at least, to Cape St. Lucas). 



Hab. Pacific coast, from San Francisco to Cape St. Lucas. (Also probably Pacific coast of 

 Mexico and Central America.) 



Sp. Char. Similar to P. fuscus, but decidedly larger, the gular sac, in breeding-plumage, 

 reddish instead of greenish, and the chestnut of the nape usually much darker (often nearly black). 

 " Bare skin around eye, brown ; base and much of pouch deep red " (fresh colors of an adult male 

 "in breeding-plumage and condition" shot Feb. 24, 1882, at La Paz, Lower California ; cf. Bel- 

 ding, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. Vol. 5, 1883, p. 545). Culnien, 12.2.5-14.75 inches ; wing, 20.50- 

 23.25. 



In Volume V. of the " Proceedings" of the United States National Museum, p. 545, the follow- 

 ing comments occur concerning a specimen of Brown Pelican ironi La Paz, Lower California, 

 collected by Mr. L. Belding : " In the . . . specimen sent, the back of the neck is a rich brownish 

 black, quite different from the seal-brown or chestnut of all eastern specimens I have seen. Audu- 

 bon describes the color of the naked orbits [of P. fuscus] as pink, the naked skin about the base of 

 the bill as deep blue, and the pouch greenish black. Thus it would seem that the soft parts are 

 very differently colored. Should this difference prove constant, the western bird would have to be 

 separated as a race." 



In dried skins it is unfortunately not possible to detect the original color of the soft parts ; but 

 a second example received from Mr. Belding (No. 90035, U. S. National Museum, 9 ad., San Jose, 

 Lower California, Feb. 8, 1882), agrees closely with the male, the red color of the pouch being at 

 this date (April 25, 1884) very perceptiljle. Both tliese specimens are decidedly larger than any 

 we have seen from Florida, the West Indies, or other localities on the Atlantic side ; and on com- 

 paring three adults from San Francisco Bay (the only additional ones from the Pacific side that we 

 have been able to examine), we find them to agree in Itirger size. Only one of them is in summer 

 plumage, however, and this (No. 9958, U. S. Nat. Mus., J ad.) has the nape light chestnut, as 

 in some of the lighter coloied eastern examples ; but the featliers of this part of the plumage 

 ai>[)ear worn and faded. It may be that the supposed difference in the color of the nape will 

 not prove sufficiently constant to serve as a diagnostic character ; but even if this should be the 

 case the difference in dimensions ^ and in the color of the soft parts is of itself, in our opinion, 

 sufficient to justify the recognition of two species or races. 



It maybe that tins bird is the '^ Pelecanus Molince, Gray," of Messre. Sclater and Elliot, as 

 cited in the synonymy ; but from the very meagre descriptions given it is unfortunately quite 

 impossible to tell with certainty. 



The account of the habits of Californian specimens given under the head of P. fuscus of course 

 refer to the present form. 



1 No. 86384, IT. S. Nat. Mus. ; La Paz, Feb. 24, 1882. 



2 The five adult examples of P. californicus compared with seven adults of P. fuscus as follows, the 

 extreme and average measurements being given : — 



W^ing. Bill, from base of culmen. 



P. californicus, 20.50-23.25 (21.75) 12.25-14.75 (12.90) 



P. fuscus, 18.50-21.00 (19.79) 9.40-12.20 (11.12) 



