100 



FLORIDA BIRD-LIFE 



the nests in which they were l)orn, to which they soon 

 returned after being disturbed, and it appeared also, much 

 to my surprise, that these fully fledged birds averaging now 

 slightly larger and heavier than the adults, were still being 

 fed by their parents. Here indeed was the reason for the 

 continued occui^ation of the home-site in order that the par- 

 ent might have the least difficulty in locating its dependent 

 offs])ring. 



Young Pelicans After Feeding 

 The bird at the right lias a needle-flsh projecting from its pouch 



Under these circumstances throughout the day, but par- 

 ticularly in the afternoon, the island was in a constant 

 uproar. As many as six feeding scenes might be in progress 

 at once, each the center of a mob of struggling, screaming 

 Pelicans. 



The adult bird recognizes its own offspring in part 

 doubtless by locality, largely by sight, and possibly by scent. 

 Several times old birds were seen to permit a young one to 

 begin to insert its bill in their pouch only to discover that, 

 apparently, it was not their chick, when it was denied 

 further admittance to the base of supplies. 



