LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN PETRELS AND PELICANS. 283 



lake looked forbidding enough, for its muddy waters were covered 

 with white caps and heavy breakers were rolling in on the pebbly 

 beach before a strong northerly gale; but we could not resist the 

 temptation to visit a small island, which lay legs than 200 yards 

 offshore, and over which a cloud of white gulls were hovering. The 

 chief attraction was a great white mass of birds standing on one 

 end of the island, conspicuous as a snow bank in spring, but recog- 

 nized at once as a flock of pelicans. I had never seen a breeding 

 colony of white pelicans and, as our driver assured us that the water 

 was shallow enough to drive to the island, we decided to attempt it. 

 Our horses plunged bravely on through the rough water, which 

 nearly flooded the wagon, the flying spray drenched us to the skin 

 and nearly took our breath away as it was blown into our faces by 

 the gale; but we arrived safely at the end of our short drive none 

 the worse for our chilly shower bath, and we were well repaid for 

 our trouble. Clouds of California and ring-billed gulls were rising 

 from the little island and beating the air above it in a bewildering 

 maze; numerous ducks flew from the grassy knolls and a lot of 

 yelping avocets added their cries to the constant chorus of gulls' 

 voices. But the pelicans stood silent and dignified until they de- 

 cided to leave and then, as if by one common impulse, they all rose 

 at once with a great flapping of lon^ black-tipped wings; they 

 seemed heavy, awkward, and ungainly at first, but they soon gained 

 headway and showed their marvelous mastery of the air, as they 

 swung into line forming one large V-shaped flock; they circled 

 around the island two or three times, with slow and dignified wing 

 beats in military precision, or all scaled in unison like well-drilled 

 soldiers; and finally, when satisfied that they must leave and when 

 fully arranged in proper marching order, they all followed their 

 leader and departed northward over the lake; the last we saw of 

 them they were flying in a long straight line, just above the horizon, 

 their black-tipped wings keeping perfect step and their snowy 

 plumage showing clearly cut against the cold gray sky even when 

 miles away. It was a fascinating spectacle to stand and gaze at 

 that departing flock of magnificent birds and to dream of nature's 

 wonders, the marvels of creation, which only those may see who 

 seek the solitudes of remote wilderness lakes. 



We were doomed to disappointment, however, for not a pelican's 

 nest was to be found on the island ; we felt sure that they would have 

 eggs at this late date, June 14 ; possibly they had been disturbed ; but 

 more likely they were merely wandering about in flocks, as we had 

 seen them elsewhere. Later in the season, on July 18, 1906, Doctor 

 Bishop and Doctor Dwight visited this island again and found a 

 small breeding colony of white pelicans with a few double-crested 



