THROUGH WILD EUROPE 131 



apparently satisfied that I was not in any way 

 dangerous. 



It was a great satisfaction to find myself at last at 

 such close quarters and on such familiar terms with 

 these birds, which had evaded my pursuit for a 

 whole month, and to be able to watch the habits of 

 such a wary and comparatively little known species 

 — little known, that is, of course, in a wild state, 

 Pelicans in captivity being very common objects in 

 all zoological gardens. 



The nests were usually in groups of six or eight 

 together, some of them quite small and flat on the 

 ground — mere flat-trodden rings of sticks ; but in 

 each group there were generally one or two con- 

 siderably higher than the rest. These were well 

 and completely made of sticks and about two feet 

 high — very similar to a Cormorant's nest, but better 

 made and with a deeper hollow. Two eggs appeared 

 to be the full clutch ; these were long and white and 

 chalky, but by this date, May 4, the great majority 

 of the nests contained young birds. However, nine 

 clutches of eggs were obtained, and a few more 

 might have been taken. As these were fairly fresh 

 it is probable they were second layings. A great 

 number of the young were as large as their 

 parents, and were swimming about in the lagoon, so 

 it is evident that they must begin nesting operations 

 very early in the year. Others were still in the 



