G28 ORNITHOLOGY. 



rdccanus occipifniis, RiDGWAV, American Sportsman, Vol. IV, No. 10, An?. 8, 



1874, p. -'97. [Name proi)osed iu case the western birds prove distinct from 



the eastern.'] 



In Jiily, 1867, when encamped at the Big Bend of the Truckee 



River, about fifteen miles from Pyramid Lake, our first opportunity was 



afforded to observe the habits of the White PeHcan. At that time few 



' In the anther's paper, above cited ["Breedingsronud of VVbite Pelicans at Pyr- 

 amid Lake, Nevada"], certain discrepancies between the descriptions given by various 

 authors, of the breeding plumage, and form of the mandibular crest, of the White 

 Pelicans of the northern and eastern portions of the continent, and the characters 

 of those observed at Pyramid Lake, are noted ; these consisting, in brief, of the pos- 

 ses.sion by the latter of a conspicuous patch of dusky-grayish on the occiput, which 

 is wanting in the former, the absence of a yellowish occipital crest and a rosy tint to 

 the plumage, which is mentioned in nearly all descriptions, the smaller general size, 

 and other minor points of diflerence. Captain Bendire, however, who found these 

 birds breeding at Lake Milheur, southeastern Oregon (see Bod and Gun, June 19, 

 1875, p. 194), says that those observed by him had a white occipital crest, while he 

 does not mention any dusky occipital spot. This apparent difference between the birds 

 of two quite adjacent localities is explained, however, by Mr. 0. J. Maynard, wlio from 

 observations on a specimen kept in confinement, ascertained that this dusky spot 

 appears only after the occipital crest in dropped; and that this takes place just at the 

 close of the breeding-season is proven by the fact that our visit to Pyramid Lake was 

 iu the latter part of May, when these birds had just made their second attempt to raise 

 a brood of young, the first effort having been foiled by the gulls, who had broken and 

 eaten the eggs. It is a notable fact, iu this connection, that our birds possessing the 

 du.sky occipital spot had dropped the mandibular excrescence. Mr. Maynard's bird was 

 obtained in Florida (the date of capture is not mentioned), and had then the mandib- 

 ular excrescence and an occipital crest; these were both thrown off early in May, when 

 the dmliij spot on the occiput made its appearance, the general plumage and the colors of 

 the soft parts at the same time undergoing certain changes — the brilliant orange of the 

 gular sac and orbital region fading to yellow. At the same time, however, Mr. May- 

 nard's specimen differed iu certain respects from all western examples which we have 

 seen, which still renders it likely that, as we suggested, the eastern and western birds 

 of this species may prove to be different races. As to this, Mr. Maynard, iu the 

 article cited above, says: " When captured he [the Florida specimen] had a fine occip- 

 ital crest three or four inches in length, of a pale straw-color [italics our own]. * * 

 The feathers of the back, usually the tertiaries, had an elongated central spot of pale 

 roseate. The center of the tail feathers were also of a beautiful roseate tinge. Others shot 

 at the some time agreed with the description given above.'" Mr. Maynard also states that 

 his bird had hazel eyes instead of white, and that the eyelids were yellow instead of 

 red; and that "although Audubon and jMr. Kidgway state that Pelicans have white 

 eyes, all that I have examined have hazel." It may yet be ascertained, however, that 

 at the proper season (the height of the pairing-season) the western White Pelicans 

 may also possess the rosy tinge to the i)lumage, the yellow crest, etc., and that the color 

 of the iris may be to a certaiu extent dependent on age. 



