722 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. ^ STEGANOPODES. 



from the crop. As Audubou remarks, it is doubtful whether a pelican could fly at aU with its 

 burden so out of trim. 



The gular pouch varies in size with the different species, reaching its greatest development 

 in the brown pelican, where it extends hali'-way down the neck in front, is a foot deep wheu 

 distended, and will hold a gallon. Besides this singular adjunct, the bill of our white pelican 

 lius another curious structure, not found in other species. The culmen is surmounted near the 

 middle by a high thin upright comb or crest, the use of which is not know'n. It is found 

 during the breeding season alone, being shed and renewed in a manner analogous to the casting 

 of deer's horns. Its structure explains how tliis can be : '' The crest-like excrescence on the 

 ridge of the upper mandible is not fonned of bone, nor otherwise connected with the osseous 

 surface, which is smooth and continuous beneath it, than by being placed upon it, like any 

 other part of the skin ; and when softened by immersion in a liquid may be bent a little to 

 either side. It is composed internally of erect slender plates of a fibrous texture, externally of 

 homy fibres, which are erect on the sides, and longitudinal on the broadened ridge ; these fibres 

 being continuous ^vith the cutis and cuticle." 



Pelicans are found in most temperate and tropical countries, both coastwise and inland ; 

 they are gregarious birds at all times, and gather in immense troops to breed. A large rude 

 nest is prepared on the ground, or buUt of sticks in a low bush near the water ; the eggs appear 

 to be one to three, plain dull whitish, with a thick roughened shell. The gait of these cum- 

 bersome birds is awkward and constrained ; but their flight is easy, firm, and protracted, and 

 they swim lightly and gracefully, buoyed up by the interior air-sacs. The sexes are alike ; the 

 young different; most species are white, with yellow or rosy hue at times, and a crest or length- 

 ened feathers, at the breeding season ; while nearly every one of them has a peculiar contour 

 of the feathering at the base of the bill, by which it may be known. There are only six un- 

 questionable species, although some authors admit eight or nine. The four exotic ones are : 

 P. onocrotalus of Europe, Asia, and Africa (including the P. minor and javanicus of authors), 

 with the frontal feathers extending in a point on the culmen ; P. crispus of the same countries, 

 the largest of the genus, and P. rufeseens (with philippinus) of various parts of the Old World, 

 in both of which the fi-ontal outline is concave on the base of the culmen ; and finally, the 

 Australian P. conspicillatus, in which a strip of feathers cuts off the naked circumocular region 

 from the base of the biU. This is an entirely peculiar feature ; and our white pelican shows 

 another, having the sides of the under mandible feathered at base for a short distance. 

 302. PELECA'NUS. (Gr. peleeanus, a pelican.) Pelican. Character as above. 



748. P. trachyrhyn'chus. (Gr. rpaxvs, tracJius, rough ; pvyxos, hrugclws, beak. Fig. 501.) 

 American' White Pelican. Adult $ 9 '■ Plumage white, with black primaries, their coverts, 

 alula, and many of the secondaries, the shafts of the quills white. Lengthened feathers of occiput 

 and breast, and some of the lesser wing-coverts, pale straw-yeUow. Tail-feathers said to be 

 r<Jsy at times ; and a dark spot to appear on the occiput after the breeding season. Iris pearly 

 white, at times or in young, brown or dusky. Bill and feet ordinarily yellow ; much reddened 

 in the breeding season, when the general tone of the bill is reddish salmon color, the under 

 mandible brighter than the upper, which has the ridge whitish ; pouch passing from livid 

 whitish anteriorly through yellow and orange to red at base ; bare skin about eye orange ; eye- 

 lids red ; feet intense orange-red. Length 5 feet ; extent S-9 feet ; wing 2 feet or more ; biU 

 a foot or more ; fore-arm about 15 inches ; tail 6.00, 24-feathered ; tibia bare 1.00 ; tarsus 4.50 ; 

 middle toe about 5.00. This magnificent bird ranges over temperate N. Am. at large, but 

 irregularly ; rare, casual, or wanting in Middle and Eastern States and beyond ; S. Atlantic 

 and Gulf States, common ; and generally in the West abundant in suitable places, inland as 

 well as coastAvise, up to 61° N. at least. Breeds in colonies, sometimes of vast extent ; nest 

 merely a heap of earth ; egg single. 



749. P. fus'cus. (Lat. fuscus, brown.) American Brown Pelican. Adult ^: Bill mottled 



