30 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL, MUSEUM vol. 7S 



17, 1929. It has the upper surface heavily barred with black and a 

 black spot at the tips of the elongating central rectrices. It is allo- 

 cated to subspecies after Mathews without critical comparison of 

 adult skins. 



Adults often were seen flying about their high nesting crags or 

 far out over the water, but none was observed near enough to dis- 

 tinguish the markings. 



PELECANUS OCCIDENTALIS OCCIDENTALIS Linnaeu* 



Brown pelican 



Pelecanus onocrotalus occidentalis Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, vol. 1, 1766, 

 p. 215. (West Indies.) 



Pelicans were abundant about Panama Bay, and as we passed out 

 to the Pacific on June 1 almost every pile was decorated with one of 

 these birds. 



On the evening of July 17 on our return, many flocks containing 

 from 10 to 50 individuals were seen flying toward a roosting place in 

 the vicinity of Taboga Island. Some of these flocks passed just over 

 the yacht and gave a good opportunity for silhouette photographs. 



Around the shores and bays of the Galapagos group pelicans were 

 common, and their clumsy but effective dive in pursuit of fish, re- 

 minding one of a keg falling overboard, was often heard or seen. 

 At Tower Island, as we were approaching shore, a pelican almost 

 alighted on Mr. Pinchot's head, as he stood amidships directing the 

 course. These birds were found breeding among the mangroves on 

 Indefatigable Island, June 24. 



Pelicans were common also about Cocos Island. As no specimens 

 were taken it is not certain whether they were the present form or 

 the more northern California brown pelican. 



SULA LEUCOGASTRA PLOTUS (Foriter) 



Brown booby 



Pelecanus plotus Forstek, Desc. Anim., 1844, p. 278. (Near New Caledonia.) 



An adult female taken on Cocos Island, June 5, 1929, by A. K. 

 Fisher, resembles birds from Polynesian localities in being distinctly 

 darker above than specimens from the "West Indies. 



This species was common at Wafer Bay, Cocos Island, where un- 

 doubtedly a colony was nesting. At almost any time of day 50 or 

 more birds were to be seen diving after their prey. They were seen 

 also on the Chatham Bay side of the island, but were not so common 

 there as the red-footed booby. 



The species was observed at Tower Island in large numbers, and as 

 individuals in other parts of the Galapagos group. 



