124 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 18-N0. 9 



The Pelicans of Michigan. 



At rare intervals we read of captures of 

 Pelicans in Michigan, and these records have 

 assumed such proportions as to lead me to 

 think that the White Pelican, at least, is no 

 more to be considered a great rarity among 

 us. Undoubtedly this species is to be found 

 in our state each season, but as it may select 

 wild and litde known quarters, it rarely comes 

 to the notice of competent observers. 



The species was known in our upper pe- 

 ninsula, about 47 degrees, as long ago as 

 1856. Two specimens were shot in St. Joseph 

 County about 42 degrees north latitude. 

 One was taken in St. Clair County, 43° N. 

 lat. 82° 30' W. long., and is now, I believe, 

 in the university museum. Mr. Adolph 

 Beerstecher, of Center^ille, Michigan, has 

 mounted state specimens. Then on page 

 143, 1892 " O. & O." is recorded a capture 

 at Dorr, Allegan Coimty, Michigan, about 

 43° N. lat., 85° 30' W. long. 



The White Pelican breeds to the west of 

 our state, and was reported from N. Dakota 

 for many years, and undoubtedly nests there 

 now. It also reaches in its summer range 

 well up into the British Possessions. As it 

 is preferably a fresh water feeder, it follows 

 that there are few, if any, sections of our 

 possessions where it may not be found, at 

 least as an occasional straggler. The Mis- 

 sissippi valley must be, in the main, the 

 course of migration to those birds nesting 

 in British America and the northern confines 

 of our states ; and it follows that singles, 

 pairs, and perhaps occasionally small de- 

 tached flocks, will be seen during spring and 

 fall in Michigan. It is not improbable that 

 the species was once found breeding in our 

 upper peninsula. 



The Brown Pelican has been embraced 

 as a state species by a single collector. The 

 late W. H. Collins, of Detroit, Michigan, a 

 most reliable observer and capable taxider- 

 mist, wrote me that a specimen was captured 

 near Romeo, Macomb County, in the spring 



of 1882. If this secord is correct, and I 

 have never had cause to doubt Mr. Collins' 

 observations, then it is remarkable as a 

 nothern note, but more surprising as a rec- 

 ord from the interior, for the Brown Peli- 

 can is eminently a salt water bird. The lo- 

 cality of this capture, about 43° N. lat. and 

 83° W. long., is certainly surprising. How- 

 ever, reasoning from analogy, we have no 

 reason to doubt this record, either from ob- 

 servations on the same species near to our 

 state, or from notes of many other species of 

 salt water birds which -straggle to the great 

 lake region. Moreover, we know that this 

 bird does straggle over the lower course of 

 the Mississippi and its tributaries, and we 

 cannot as yet give the limits of this occa- 

 sional variation. G. Sirrom. 



A Few Observations on the Crested 

 Flycatcher. 



The Crested Flycatcher is quite common 

 in this district, and as I have taken a great 

 interest in these birds, I concluded to form 

 a better acquaintance with them this year, so 

 I placed a box of the right dimensions in a 

 large oak tree in my back yard. The first 

 Flycatchers were seen here about April 27. 

 On May 13, as I sat on the back porch, a 

 pair of Crested Flycatchers came and lit in 

 the tree where the box was. From this time 

 I watched them carefully. 



I did not see anything more of them until. 

 May 19. I woke up and looked out to see 

 the birds, for I heard them from the tree. 

 Yes, they were carrying the first material 

 into the box. By the 2 2d the nest was com- 

 pleted to my notion, but the necessary article 

 had not yet been found. The box was half 

 full of grass, chicken feathers, fish scales, and 

 rubbish ; but the snake's skin was wanting. 

 On the 26 th, however, an ample supply was 

 found and the nest seemed to be going 

 through a renovation, for certain articles 

 were thrown out and the snake's skin put 

 instead. After about a double handful was 

 added the nest was complete. On the morn- 



