PELECANUS ERYTORORnYNCnUS. 633 



and about three inches in length, in some specimens as much as five inches," 

 and "continued forward, of less elevation, to the extent of an inch farther'" 

 — all being of quite regular and firm outline, the top convex or arched, the 

 width at the base greater than that through the middle; they were also with- 

 out anterior or posterior continuations. The usual size was about two and a 

 half inches in vertical length, and the same in width at the base, the largest 

 specimen found being three and a half inches high by three wide. Of two 

 now before us, one measures two and a half inches from the center of the 

 top to the posterior lower angle, three and a quarter from the same point to 

 the anterior lower corner, and a little more than two and a half inches 

 along its base, its transverse thickness being three-tenths of an inch. The 

 other measures one inch and eight-tenths in heiglit (the fibers running per- 

 pendicularly, instead of very obliquely backward, toward the top) by two 

 inches and seven-tenths in width at the base. In some examples the two 

 edges were nearly parallel, the general form being thus very nearly semi- 

 cllii)tical ; but such specimens were rare, the usual form being an irregular 

 arcli. 



In a former account of the habits of the White Pelican as observed at 

 Pyramid Lake, published in the American Sportsman (Vol. IV, No. 19, 

 pp. 289 and 297), we stated that the horny excrescence, characteristic of 

 this species in the breeding-season, was peculiar to the male. We were led 

 to make this statement by the fact that of the several specimens dissected 

 every one possessed of this appendage proved to be a male, while nearly 

 all those in which it was absent were females. We did not, unfortunately, 

 take into consideration the circumstance that the breeding-season wjK 

 nearly over, and that, as a consequence, a very large proportion (a consid- 

 erable mnjority, in fact) of these birds had shed, or cast, this curious decid- 

 uous growth. We are ^lad, however, to have our eiTor coiTccted, as has 

 been done by several observers liaving opportunities which were not 

 afi"orded ourselves for deciding the point, and who furnish satisfactoi-y 

 evidence that both sexes possess the so-called "center-board." According 

 to Dr. T. M. Brewer {Rod and Gun, June 19, 187.'), \). 194), the error of our 

 Htatement was perhaps first ascertained by Captain Charles Bendire, U. S. A., 



* Birds of America, Oct. eil., Vol. Vll, [i. L'C, i)l. 12-', 



