BIRDS FOUND NEAR SHORE OR IN BAYS 55 
It is the White Pelican that the gulls torment so by 
stealing his hard-earned catch time after time. And 
the Pelican, always of dignified and care-burdened mien, 
looks comically disconsolate over losing his dinner in 
this fashion. Yet he makes no attempt to defend him- 
self, for he has no chance; the quick gulls have seized 
the booty and fled before his slow brain and slower 
body can move to resent the robbery. 
127. CALIFORNIA BROWN PELICAN. — Pelecanus 
californicus. 
Famity: The Pelicans. 
Length: 44-5 feet. 
Nuptial Plumage: Head and chin white, the top of head tinged with 
straw-yellow ; a chestnut patch more or less lengthened to crest on 
back of head ; neck chestnut, merging to seal-brown ; upper parts, 
including wings and tail, silver gray, more or less streaked with seal- 
brown ; under parts dark brownish, streaked with white ; pouch and 
feet red. 
Adults in Winter: Similar, but entire head and neck white, somewhat 
tinged with straw-color; pouch and feet dull olive. 
Young: Head, neck, and upper parts light-brownish gray, tipped with 
paler; under parts white, washed with brownish gray on sides. 
Geographical Distribution: Pacific coast from British Columbia to the 
Galapagos. 
Breeding Range: Islands off coast of Lower California and Mexico. 
Breeding Season: May and June. 
Nest: Usually on the ground, sometimes in the mangrove trees; a 
loosely constructed, rather bulky mass of sticks and weed-stalks ; lined 
with grass. 
Eggs: 2 to 5; chalky white. Size 3.00 X 2.01. 
Tue California Brown Pelican is abundant through- 
out California, especially from Santa Cruz southward. 
At almost any time of the day during the fall, winter, 
and early spring, a flock of them may be seen lazily 
