these birds procure their (only) supply of nurishment. This remark- 
able food (Ambrosia) appears to be easily digested, requiring but an 
hour or two to assimilate into the system, in spite of the strenuous 
work, put in, by these skimmers, all hours of the day from early 
dawn, through hot scorching days. These birds are always strong 
and active, usually their bodies have a good supply of fat stored up. 
I am sorry I can’t recommend this food for human consumption. 
Bill is compressed to a fine edge, and flexible, which renders it easy 
to cut through the water, when at its work, dredging or sucking up, 
whilst swiftly skimming over the surface. In length Rhynchops is 
about 164 inches; wing extent 44 inches; bill deep orange, yellow 
at the tip; irides brown; legs vermillion red ; head, neck and 
secapulars are black ; quills darker in colour, secondaries and tertiaries 
edged white ; rest of the plumage is more or less white. 
TRIBE PISCATORES. 
Famity PELECANIDAL 
IV. SWIMMING FISHERS. 
These well known birds are found in abundance in the plains on 
rivers and large expanses of water. They are big in size some 
species over 5 feet; with heavy bodies, and peculiar looking bills, 
which are long, straight, broad and flattened, tip hooked ; lower 
mandible is thin, composed of two narrow parts, like jaws, flexible, 
bony and arching, supporting a large rubber-like pouch, which holds 
securely the captured fish of big size, at times. Several of these 
birds migrate over the Himalayas in spring; at which time their 
long lines of flight can easily be made out, as they pass over in big 
regular lines, high up in the sky, proceeding with great ease and 
buoyancy, with their necks drawn back. These are chiefly European, 
and Lesser White Pelicans. 
(1004) Petecanus PHInippEnsis, Grey Pelican, is what might 
be called, the common species of the plains, as itis found in abun- 
dance in most places. Fishermen frequently in India use them as 
decoys, when netting. These birds are said to attract certain kinds 
of fish to them, whilst swimming in the water, allured by an oily 
substance which exudes from off the skins of these pelicaus. This 
species is 5 feet 2 inches in length. In colour it has a predominating 
amount of grey, chiefly on the back, wings and upper tail-coverts ; 
tail white and grey; under plumage greyish-white ; under tail- 
coverts the same, mottled with brown. 
