THE BIRDS OF HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN" REPUBLIC 67 



is a specimen (male) in the collection of J. H. Fleming taken Feb- 

 ruary 16, 1907 by Verrill on Cayo Levantado opposite Samana. 

 Danforth found the pelican in 1927 at Boca Chica and San Pedro 

 de Macoris on the south coast, and Ciferri collected one at Haina, 

 July 6, 1926. 



The species is fairly common along the coast of Haiti. BufTon 

 in 1781 reported it on the authority of Deshayes, this being the 

 earliest record for the republic. The bird occurs regularly but in 

 small numbers in the vicinity of Port-au-Prince. Beebe, reports 

 six seen regularly at Sand Cay and from ten to seventeen at Lamen- 

 tin Eeef during the late winter and early spring of 1927. He ob- 

 served them feeding on Jenkinsia and Atherina, and says that twice 

 he saw a diving pelican collide with a yellow-tail, both fish and 

 bird being in pursuit of the same prey. Bartsch recorded pelicans 

 daily in April, 1917 in excursions about Jeremie, and also noted 

 them at Trou des Roseaux April 13 and 14, and near Miragoane 

 and Petit Goave April 9. Cory found the species at St. Marc, and 

 Wetmore saw it in the vicinity of Gonai'ves April 28, 1927. Abbott 

 secured skins of a young bird fully grown, and an adult male in 

 breeding dress on Grande Cayemite Island, January 7 and 8, 1918. 

 Another male was prepared as a skeleton. He took an adult female 

 in much worn and faded plumage, on Gonave Island, February 26, 

 1918, and reports the bird common there at that time. Danforth 

 saw them at St. Marc, Les Salines, and on Gonave Island in the 

 summer of 1927. Bond found them at Port-de-Paix, Jacmel, and 

 in the Gonave channel, and was told of a breeding colony near the 

 eastern end of Gonave Island. There may be another colony some- 

 where along the north shore of the southern peninsula. Poole and 

 Perrygo recorded a pelican at Anse a Galets, Gonave Island, Feb- 

 ruary 28, 1929. Abbott was told by an American resident in St. 

 Marc that thirty years ago pelicans had been far more plentiful 

 but that large numbers had been slaughtered for their feathers and 

 that since the species had not regained its earlier abundance. Des- 

 courtilz writes that in his day the pouch of the pelican was put to 

 various uses, as a pouch to carry shot or tobacco, as a water proof 

 shoe which guarded the wearer against arthritis, or as a cape for 

 children, which was supposed to ward off certain ills. 



The brown pelican is one of the largest sea birds on the island 

 and is marked from all others by the long bill, 260 to nearly 300 

 mm. in length, with a pouch bare of feathers suspended beneath. 

 Adults in breeding plumage have the back of the neck deep chestnut 

 while at other times this area is white. Young have the head and 

 neck grayish brown. 



