132 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



A Pelican Pond. 



There are many features at the National Zoological Park at Washing- 

 ton, which attest the aim and desire of the superintendent to provide for 

 the animals under his charge, the natural environments to which they have 

 been accustomed in their wild life. 



Not the least of these is the Pelican Pond, situated near the entrance to 

 the grounds. While covering only a very limited area of territory, it is 

 nevertheless an admirable illustration, on a small scale, of the advantages 

 attained by restoring to animals in captivity, the surroundings to which 

 they are adapted by nature, and of making these as near like their original 

 haunts as possible. 



This pond has been so constructed as to make an ideal summer home for 

 a large flock of American White Pelicans, owned by the Zoo, showing to 

 the visitor a glimpse of the life history of these birds that could not well 

 otherwise be obtained. The margins of the pond on one side are sandy 

 and bare of foliage, while on the opposite side, a dense growth of bushes 

 overhangs and fringes the banks to the waters edge, and offers abundant 

 shade. On the cleared side, several artifically constructed sand-bars pro- 

 ject out into the pond, and on these the birds, when tired of swimming, 

 rest and preen in the sunshine. 



They seem perfectly at home and happy in their exile, fishing in small 

 squads, swimming and diving, or resting on the sand bank, and living in 

 every way the same mode of life as they are wont to live in their native 

 haunts. 



PELICAN POND, Washington Zoological Park. Photo by J. W. DANIELS. jR. 



They have become quite accustomed to man and show no fear uiiatever 

 •when closely approached, allowing one to get within a few feet of them, 

 thus offering splendid opportunities to the naturalist photographer. During 

 summer afternoons, when shadows fall on the lake, they present a beauti- 

 ful picture as they sit in groups on the sand bars preening, their snowy 

 plumage contrasted with the green of the landscape, and their every move- 

 ment reflected in the crystal mirror of the lake. 



Jno. W. D.ANIEL, Jr., Washington, D. C. 



