130 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



water and on the sea shore, in warm and temperate 

 dimates, but there are less than a dozen species.- 

 The best known is the Common White or Roseate 

 Pehcan {Pelecanus onocrotalus) of South-East Europe 

 and the adjacent countries and famihar in cap- 

 tivity ; this has a pinkish blush on its plumage. 

 The purely white Pelican (P. trachyrhynchus) of 

 North America grows a deciduous horn on the bill 

 in the breeding season. The American Brown 

 Pelican is a small species of maritime habits and 

 dark colour ; the only South American kind (P. 

 molince) is very similar. The large Australian 

 Pelican (P. conspicillatus) is pied black and white. 

 No Pelicans are found in Britain or New Zealand 

 and the Pacific Islands; 



Penguins (Spheniscidce). 



Diagnosis. — Flightless diving-birds, with wings in the 

 form of paddles, not folding, and without quills. 



Size. — From a weight of ninety pounds (Emperor 

 Penguin) to the size of a wild-duck. 



Form. — Bill various, with sheath marked by grooves, 

 corner of mouth before eye ; neck short, general 

 form stout ; feet with shanks very short and broad, 

 and three stout webbed front toes ; hind-toe very 

 small, raised, and on the inside of the foot ; wings 

 paddle -like, flattened, hardly moving except at 

 the shoulder ; tail short or medium, with numerous 

 feathers. 



Plumage. — Exceedingly close and having a scaly 

 appearance, especially on the wings, which have 

 no true quills. Grey of some shade above, white 

 below, often with black, and sometimes yellow, 

 markings about the head. No sexual difference. 

 Moult rapid, the feathers coming off in numbers, 

 flaking off like a reptile's slough on the wings. 



