196 BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 



FAM. PELECANID.^. 



PELICANS. 



PELECANUS FilSCUS. Linn. 

 Browx Pelican. 



Winter Plumage, Male. — Sack, dark purple. Above, slate-color 

 and dark brown variegated; neck of the adult, reddish brown; head, 

 mostly white; bill, darker, marked with red; feet, purplish black; 

 iris, yellowish. Females generally have the neck yellowish white. 



Length 53, wing 18, tail 7.40, tarsus 2.50, bill 10. 



The present species is abundant throughout the Bahamas, where 

 it is a resident, and breeds in great numbers on some of the islands. 

 While paddling among the mangroves, I often observed it sitting 

 upright on the half-sunken branches, or floating silently with the 

 tide, watching keenly for any fish tliat might come vi'ithin reach of 

 its long beak, which it uses with great dexterity. 



Incubation commences the latter part of January; the nest, which 

 is very roughly constructed, is generally built on the mangroves. Dr. 

 Bryant found it very abundant. He says, " At the Biminis, the 

 Brown Pelican was numerous, and breeding on the mangroves in 



