124 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



They live on fish. The smaller ones they catch in their pouch using it 

 as a dip net. When they have got a number of fish in its interior they 

 close the bill, raise the head and contract the pouch, causing the water to 

 run out through the corners of the mouth. Large fish they catch by 

 quickly thrusting their head beneath the water and seizing the unsuspect- 

 ing prey in their bill. As they swallow their food whole they must of 

 course have a fish head first. In order to get him in this position they toss 

 him in the air and catch him as he comes down. 



Not only is their pouch an object of interest but they have other pecul- 

 iarities as well. During the breeding season only they have a peculiar 

 appendage on the upper mandible. The bill at other times is perfectly 

 smooth along the top, but at this time, a high, thin, horny, but flexible 

 comb grows about midway on it. This is of a dull whitish color. No one 

 yet has been able to give a satisfactory reason for the appearance of this 

 appendage. 



A few of the pelicans remain on the Gulf coast during the summer, but 

 the majority go farther north and make their homes about the lakes in the 

 Dakotas, Utah, and California, or in the interior of Canada. 



During migrations they fly at great heights, and like the Canada Goose 

 their voices can be heard long before they appear in sight, or when they 

 are at such an altitude as to be almost invisible 



It is said that during migrations the Pelicans use their pouch as a lunch 

 basket to carry provisions for the journey. They sometimes cross belts 

 where the ponds are all frozen and unless this is so, they would be greatly 

 inconvenienced by the lack of food. Some ornithologists have objected to 

 this theory on the ground that a Pelican could not fly with so much weight 

 in his pouch as it would destroy his balance. This objection cannot hold 

 on these grounds though, as in order to restore his equilibrium he would 

 simply have to carry his head a little farther back. 



Early in May I noticed a pair of House Wrens about an old brush heap 

 near the house, and thinking that possibly they might build in there I 

 placed a couple of one gallon paint cans in the brush good and firm. Only 

 a few days after I had the pleasure of seeing one of them being occupied, 

 and both Mr. and Mrs. Wren busy in moving in their household goods, and 

 making all preparation for spending the summer. Two weeks later there 

 were six pretty pink spotted eggs in the cottage and we hear and see the 

 pair of birds about their homes every day. 



Henry Johnson, Massachusetts. 



