PELECANUS ERYTHEORHYNCHUS. 629 



of these birds were seen, only a solitary individual being now and then 

 startled from a bed of driftwood in the river or noticed flying overhead. 

 In August, a portion of the party, accompanied by Mr. H. G. Tarker, 

 United States Superintendent of Indian Affixirs for Nevada, started on an 

 excursion to exjolore the lake and visit the abode of the Pelicans on the 

 island therein. As we descended the river the number of Pelicans seen 

 increased hourly, and when we reached the large open sheets of water 

 protected from the gales and swells of the lake by the intervening areas of 

 rushes and reeds {tides), bodies of hundreds of these melancholy-looking 

 birds were seen floating quietly upon the surfoce. They were exceedinglv 

 unsuspicious, and so unmindful of our approach that when we stopped our 

 boat one old fellow swam slowly toward it until his curiosity brought him 

 within gunshot and to his death. Upon reaching the lake we encamped 

 on the sandy -shore about three quarters of a mile from the mouth of the 

 river. There we could see during the day thousands of Pelicans, as they 

 dotted the bosom of the lake, and in the morning, about sunrise, "strino-s" 

 of several hundreds Avere observed flying from the island, about twelve miles 

 distant, where they had passed the night, to their feeding-grounds at the 

 mouth of the river. At such times they flew single-file, their manner of 

 flight being a succession of slow regular flaps of the wings, which at inter- 

 vals were extended to their full length, the birds sailing thus for a few rods, 

 when the flapping was resumed. In their flight, the line preserved the 

 utmost order and method ; the leader being invariably the first to beat or 

 extend his wings, each one of the line following in succession. Occasionally 

 an individual would break the rank and alight upon the water, often remain- 

 ing in one spot for hours, and appearing in the distance like a white boat 

 at anchor. We remained here at our shore-camp about three days, Avhen, 

 two more of the party joining us, we started about ten o'clock one moon- 

 light night for the island, which we reached after a hard row of about three 

 hours. Our arrival at the island startled the thousands of Pelicans which 

 were slumbering on the beach, and as they rose into the air the noise caused 

 by their confusion was so great that we could scarcely hear one another's 

 voices. When we landed they had all flown save a few sick or old birds, 

 that swam silently away from the shore ; they could be jjlainly seen, how- 



