258 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



when they seize a fish, and hold it by the tip of their long- 

 bill under water for a few seconds until a favorable moment 

 to swallow it. 



At times when the bay was perfectly smooth, white water 

 could be seen here and there thrown several feet into the 

 air by the fishing operations of pelicans, so far away that 

 the birds would not be noticed. With a glass I have watched 

 them when fishing close to shore — solitary birds undisturbed 

 by galls or frigate pelicans. With slow, laborious strokes 

 and bill extended, he rises to a suitable height to enable 

 him to see the fish beneath the rippled surface, then flying 

 with measured beats as though he meant to go miles away, 

 a fish is suddenly discovered near the surface, the wings 

 partially collapse, and with a heavy plunge, a loud splash 

 as he strikes, and the water flies upward. It is all over in a 

 moment, the bird shakes his plumage, adjusts the wings, and 

 sitting sedately upon the water with the bill drawn back 

 close to the neck, the tip just below the surface, holding a 

 wiggling fish for a few moments, then with an upward toss 

 of the bill, the fish disappears in the pouch, there is a slight 

 rustle of the plumage, a satisfactory shake of the tail and 

 the fisher is ready for the next. Eising heavily with an 

 inexpressibly weary air, he perhaps flies but a few yards 

 and is only a little distance above the water when another 

 fish is seen. Plunging obliquely this time it is taken, 

 and the same maneuver gone through again. Varying with 

 the smooth or ruffled state of the surface, or perhaps the 

 depth at which the fish are swimming, the pelicans rise to 

 varying heights. The momentum of the fall, or the depth 

 which the fish may be, often takes them entirely under. 

 This is a most interesting sight to witness, when a high 

 plunge carries them under, sending white water high into 

 the air and concealing the bird, then suddenly he bobs up 

 like a cork and shakes the water from his plumage. Possi- 

 bly the fish is not seen until it is directly beneath or has 

 even been passed, then the most beautiful plunge is seen, 



