AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 123 



the difficulties encountered. To climb a tree with your 5x7 camera, and 

 find a suitable position from which the nest can be viewed to good advan- 

 tage, and focus the camera and get a good picture, is a feat to be proud of. 

 1 think that the majority of people do not give the credit due those who 

 obtain good pictnres under such circumstances. 



AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN. 



A. O. 1/. JVo. 125. (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) 



RANGE. 



Abundant along the Gulf coast, in the Mississippi River valley, and on 

 the California coast. North in the interior of the country to Manitoba in 

 Canada. South in winter to Mexico and Central America. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length, 5 ft.; extent, 9ft.; tail, 6 in. Eye, varying in color from white 

 in the adult birds to brownish in the young. Bill and feet usually yellow. 

 During the breeding season the bill and feet are reddish. The pouch at 

 this time is white on the fore part changing through yellow to red at the 

 base. Plumage above and below in white. The primaries are black. 

 The lengthened feathers on the back of the head and on the breast are 

 tinged with golden. 



NEST AND EGGS. 



These birds nest in large colonies on isolated islands. The nests consist 

 of a number of twigs laid on the top of a small heap of sand. The eggs 

 are laid soon after the first of May, and from then until the middle of June. 

 They usually lay two eggs, although sometimes three or four are found in 

 a nest. The eggs are dull white, but soon become nest-stained and a dirty 

 yellow color. 



HABITS. 



These immense birds are among the most interesting that we have. 

 Owing to the peculiar pouch that is suspended from the lower mandible, 

 they are objects of curiosity wherever seen. This pouch is made of very 

 thin skin and lined with slender fibres. The birds have the power of ex- 

 panding or contracting it. When expanded it has a capacity of three or 

 four quarts. 



