t) 



:- j^ PF.LECANUi^ FlSiCVS. 



water Cn.m amoii- the fishes which arc swallowed al once. Durin- ealin wciithcr, they Ccea 

 in the open waters of the Gulf but when high winds oceur, they visit the mure (luiet la- 

 goons and bayous among the flats. After satisfying their hunger, they uill sit for a time 

 on the outer sand-bars or reefs, often gathering by thousands, but will shortly rise in small 

 companies, flying in wedge-shaped flocks, or in ranks like Geese or 8wans, but move with 

 alternate flapping and sailing and thus rise to a great height, when they will circle about 

 an hour ox more on motionless wings, not, however, in regular order but crossing and rc- 

 crossing one another in eccentric gyrations. Later in the day, t!iey relurn to I'oust, pass- 

 ing the night on the reefs. They are very shy at all times, equally so at night, for they 

 can see during the hours of darkness nearly oniuite as well as Owls, and when approach(;d 

 will rise and fly to the nearest reef. The only way in which I was successful in obtaining 

 a shot at them, was by sailing, wdien, as they always rise into the vv^ind, I would some- 

 times manage to secure one. These birds, in spite of their large size, are exceedingly gen- 

 tle in disposition and easily tamed, and one that I brought north, he having been slightly 

 wounded in the wing, remained with me for three years, when he died. This bird never 

 attempted to injure any thing, even permitting young chickens to run about him, and as they 

 walked over his huge feet, he merely glauced down at them to see what they were doing. 

 Johuny, as he was called, was very intelligent and always knew those who were kind to 

 him, recognizing them with a grunt, his only note, while he would rre(juently take their 

 hands in his long bill and gently squeeze them. He allowed every one who came to see 

 him, to caress him, and was always ready to receive company. Johnny ate nut only fish 

 but meat, and the quantity which he devoured was surprising, for he often consumed six 

 or eight pounds at a meal. Not that he was a glutton, for when he was satisfied, no tem[)- 

 tation would induce him to take another morsel. His fav(n-ite methocl of ealing was to have 

 his food thrown to him, when he would catch it in his beak, slip it into his pouch, then he 

 would wait until I grasped him by the bill, when I would raise it and shake his head un- 

 til the food passed downward into his stomach. No confinement whatever was necessary 

 for Johnny as he never showed the slightest propensity to wander, ( xcepting iu autumn, 

 when, having some idea of migrating, he would waddle away iVoni the house a few hun- 

 dred yards, then, evidently surprised to find himself on strange ground, wr.uld raise his 

 head, gaze about him distractedly, when precciving hij home, would spread his long wings 

 and comeback, half running and half flying. This performance would be rcjicatnl sever- 

 al limes in a season, but always terminated as relalctl My bird h.\.l many (piauit, inter- 

 esting habits and during his short life among us made nnuiy friends \vh.) will long remem- 

 ber Johnny Pelican. The late Captain Dunuuitt informed me, that upon (.>;ie oicasion, the 

 White Pelicans bred in considerable numbers on a small island, in the lagoon just south 

 of Mosquito Inlet, but this is unusual and they have never repealed it, the species gener- 

 ally migrating northward in April to ucst on the inland waters of tlie North-west. 



PELECAITUo FUSCUS. 



Brown Pelican. 



PL/icanu^/usai.s Linn.. Sy.-^t. Nal., 1, ITdli, -.'15. 



DEsrr.ii'tioN. 



Si-. Vi\. F(iriii, i-dbiist. Size, liirt;e. Bill withnut ccntnil clc\ati()ri. (.'n),nu. Ailull. lli-nl iiii.l st.ii|i(. ,111 nci-kad- 

 joininj^uulnr siic, white, tlie fuvuierstonyly lingcj willi yellow. Il.uitiinilcruf net k, dark clio.-;rniit-liimvii. Abuve, l)nary, 

 with the (rathr'i-s moi'o or less udgcd with durk-brown. Uv'uoatli, suuty-black, wiili tin- k'aiiii.i.-^c,l'sidi.'.~, U.mks. a\illarics. 



