wm TE p EL 1CA^. 53 



HABITS. 

 The Bixiby Gannets occur on the coast of Florida in considerable nuTiihtn-s but do not 

 now breed anywhere on the west side of the Gulf Stream, though (hey nest abundantly ou 

 the Bahamas. Those that I have seen on the Florida coast, had similar haljits to those of 

 the preceding species. These Gannets have been taken on one or two (KU'asions as far north 

 as Massachusetts but this is much beyond their usual range. 



FAMILY 11. PELECANID^. THE PELICANS. 



Bill, excessively elongated and hooked at tip. Gulur sac, ven/ laaje. Sfrrnum, I'li-t 

 little longer than wide. Coracoids, at least as long as sternum. 



The oesophagus is straight and very wide. Proventriculus, large with glands arranged 

 in a zonular band, the internal surface of which is either rugose or in riilges. Slmnacli 

 small and not muscular. Caeca, moderately well developed. Sternum, well arched, with 

 the central posterior margin projected, and indented on either side with two wide scallops. 

 Keel projecting forward very slightly and occupies a little more than one half liie length of 

 the sternum. Cor^icoids at least as long as sternum. Tail, short and rounded. Head, 

 crested. 



GENUS I. PELECANU.-S. THE PELICANS. 

 Gen. Cu. Similar to those givcD under iiiinil.v lieailing. Members of this i;enus are reujarkahle uu aecount oi' the 

 long bill and enoriiious gular sae. Sexe.s, similar. There arc two species within our limits. 



PEIiECANUS ERYTHRORHYNCHUS. 



White Pelican. 



Pekcanus eryllirorhynchus (iu., Syst. Nat.. I; 17HS. 571. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Ch. Form, roljust. Size.Tery larj^e. Bill, vith a central elevation on termiual half. Colok. Adult. Pure 



"white with primaries and nearly all of secondaries, black. Center of scapuhiries and tail feathers, deep saljuon. SjMit en 



Ijrcast and wing coverts, pale straw. Iri.s, white, bill, yellow strongly tinged with red, feet, orange, naked space about 



tead and gular sac, yellow. Younij, similar to adult; the bright markings arc]ialerand thcrcisnoeeatralclevalion on bill. 



•OBSERVATIONS. 

 Known by the peculiar form and white color After luoultinir in autumn the back el the Ii<'!m1 becimiesi|uiicgray, the 

 •central elevation of bill falls oira!id the 'iris is brown. This .stage of plumage, however. Is CKceedingly transient, but tlwj 

 iris remains brown until the following spring. Bistribuccd, iasummer, throughout Western North .\meriea from Utah, 

 northward; rare in Florida at this sciison. Wintei-s in tlie Sjutli. Accidental on the Northern Atlantic coast. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Nra-th America. Leirgth,fi5-50; stretch, IdS-iJO; wing, 2-t;)S, (ail, fi .')0; bill, 

 14'00; tarsus, 4-G3. Longest specimen, TO'OO; greatest extent of wing, 105-25; longest wing, -3 1-75; tail, 7" Id: bill, rf55: tar- 

 sus, 4-75. Shortest specimen, GP15; smallest extent of wing, I0')-00; shortest wing, i!4'()0; tail.fr25; bill, I.'S-50; tarsus, 4'.'J0. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nests, placed on the ground nearthc water, eomp >sed of sticks, weeds, etc. E(j(/s, one or two rn number, o\al in form, 

 «nd white in color, covered with a ealearecms depos't. Dimensions from 2-20.K.3-15 to d'SS.t.'VdO. 



II API; S. 



I found the magnificent birds, which lortii the subject of the present sketch, (piite 

 common on Indian River in winter, bat they <inly occupied the limited section of country 

 -which lies between the ILiulover €aual .and Merritt's Island. The White Peliciuis were, 

 however, remarkably abundant on tiie Gulf coast about Cedar Keys, but did not occur in 

 any numbers much south of this point. When feeding, these fine Pelicans swim along the 

 water and capture their prey by thrusting their long bill, and occasionally the entire head, 

 l)eneath the surface of the water, then the bill is raised, the .pouch contracted, forcing the 



