1867.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 193 



til'ul sbcer of water, and I obsorvod that tlic Pelicans had taken almost 

 exclnsiv^e possession of one of thein, the other being- similarly occupied 

 by equally large numbers of shags. Although a few of the latter were 

 living peaceably with the former on the Pelicans' island, there were only 

 two Pelicans found on the island occupied by tlie shags. On the day 

 of our visit (June 28, 1884) a flock, numbering a score or more, were 

 seen wheeling gracefully in the air at a very great height, their white 

 forms distinct in the sunlight miles away. 



Pelecanus califoniicus Kiilgw. Culifontia Brown I'clican. 



This bird, which is quite common on the coast, may be seen almost 

 any evening in the fall fishing in Ilumboldt Bay. It flies in a rapid 

 business-like manner but a few feet above the surface of the water, and 

 drops with a great splash when a fish is discovered. It continues its 

 search well into the night, and 1 have frequently been startled by its 

 noisy splash when rowing on the bay after dark. During the day it 

 usually swims quietly and does not ap])ear to lish much by diving. 



Family ANATID^E. Ducks, Geese, and Swans. 

 Merganser americaiius (Cass."). American Merganser. 



This sheldrake breeds regularly on the Lower McCloud, where it is 

 present the year round. Young birds in the down were obtained on 

 May 21, and several flocks of young were seen a ccuple of weeks later. 

 Young birds of this species were also seen on Eagle Lake late in June. 

 Pish ducks were not observed elsewhere than on the larger mountain 

 streams and lakes. 



Merganser serrator (Linii.j. lied-breusled Merganser. 



Common at Humboldt Bay, but not observed elsewhere. 



Lophodytes cucuUatus (Linn.). Hooded Merganser. 



Apparently a winter visitant, having been met with on McCloud and 

 Pitt Rivers, and Humboldt Bay in the fall and winter. 



Anas boschas Linn. Mallard. 



TheJMallard is a common constant resident of this whole region, hav- 

 ing been observed to be comparatively abundant in the Upper Sacra- 

 mento Valley in winter, and found breeding in limited numbers about 

 the mountain lakes in summer, i found Mallards August 1, at the 

 base of Mount Shasta, in certain wet meadows, where, in all i)roba- 

 bility, they had nests, and on June 27, I found a nest of eight eggs, in 

 the middle of a grassy ijlain near Eagle Lake. It is one of the com- 

 monest game-ducks at Humboldt Bay, 



Anas strepera Liuti. Gadwall. 



The Gadwall is a rather rare duck at Humboldt Bay, and was not 

 met with in the interior counties at all, but specimens were shot at Port 

 Crook by Captain Feilner, and ihe species doubtless breeds in suitable 

 lakes in the region. 



Proc. N. M. 87 13 



