70 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



Dr. Crowell of St. Joseph, Michigan saw two Brown PeHcans at the mouth 

 of the St. Joseph River. They passed quite close to him on the wing 

 and he had a good opportunity to note their pecuharities. He has spent 

 several winters in Florida and is perfectly familiar with the species there, 

 and is confident that there is no mistake in the identification." 



I can add nothing to the record of this species in Michigan. In general 

 habits it is much like the White Pelican, but appears to be much less of 

 a wanderer. 



It nests in large colonies along the Florida shores and the Gulf coast, 

 and lays two or three eggs which are similar to those of the White Pelican, 

 but smaller, averaging 3.01 by 1.95 inches. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



"Nuptial plumage: Head, and feathers bordering base of gular pouch, all roimd, 

 white, the top of the former sometimes straw yellowish; rest of neck rich velvety reddish 

 brown, varying from light reddish chestnut to seal-skin brown, or nearly black; upper 

 part of hind neck with a more or less distinct crest of chestnut; upper parts silvery gray, 

 the feathers of back, rump, lesser wing-coverts, etc., edged with dark brown, producing a 

 striped or streaked appearance; lower parts dark brownish gray, the sides, etc., streaked 

 with silvery white. Winter adult: Similar, but whole head and neck white, except for 

 a straw yellow tinge on the former and on the lower part of the fore neck. Young: Head 

 and neck light brownish gray, somewhat mottled with paler tips to the feathers; back, 

 wing-coverts, etc., dull brown, the feathers tipped with pale fulvous; lower parts white, 

 tinged with brownish gray laterally and posteriorly." (Ridgway). 



Length, 4 to 4J feet; wing, 18.50 to 21 inches; culmen, 9.40 to 12.20. 



Order V. ANSERES. — Swans, Ducks and Geese. 



Family 15. ANATID^. 



A. Neck very long, at least as long as the body; tarsus reticulate. Large, 



entirely white birds. Swans. 

 AA. Neck shorter than the body. Ducks and Geese. B, BB. 



B. Legs comparatively long and toes short (shank or tarsus longer 



than the middle toe without its nail) ; tarsus reticulate. Geese. 



BB. Legs comparatively short and toes long (shank or tarsus shorter 



than middle toes without its nail); tarsus scutellate in front 



(Fig. 15). Ducks. 



DUCKS. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



A. Bill long and narrow (seldom more than J inch wide at narrowest part 

 never ^ inch wide), edges of both mandibles with saw-like teeth. 

 Saw-bill Ducks. B, BB. (Fig. 10). 

 B. Teeth long, sharp-pointed, inclined backward; bill long (2 inches or 

 more) wing over 8 inches. Goosander and Red-breasted Mer- 

 ganser. Nos. 30, 31. 

 BB. Teeth short, blunt, not inclined backward; bill short (much less 

 than 2 inches) ; wing under 8 inches. Hooded Merganser. No. 32. 



