208 



BIRD STUDIES WITH A CAMERA 



strong characteristics of the immature Pelican a 

 pugnacious disposition. Almost before his eyes are 

 open he bites at his nest mates for apparently no 

 other reason than that they come within reach of 



107. Young Telican in tree nest, showing first appearance of white down. 



his bill. Soon his eyes open and within a few days 

 a wonderful change begins to take place in his 

 appearance. 107 Little bunches of white down sprout 

 all over his body, and, growing rapidly, transform 

 the ugly, purple-black nestling into a snowy creature 

 clad in softest down. 



At the same time he has been growing much 

 stronger ; he is able to sit up, 108 his fighting abilities 

 have greatly increased, and his voice, after passing 

 through a rasping k-r-r-r-ing stage, has become a 

 high, piercing cry very closely resembling the scream 

 of a child in extreme pain. Young Pelicans utter- 

 ing this call chiefly made up the chorus one could 



