66 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



[Chalky White.] 



126. Brown Pelican. Pelecanus occidentalis. 



Range. Found on the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. 



Brown Pelicans are about 50 inches in length; they have a blackish and grayish 

 body and a white head and neck with a brown stripe down the back of the latter. 

 The pouch is a dark greenish brown. This species is maritime and is not found 

 inland. They breed in large colonies on many of the islands in the Gulf of 

 Mexico and on Pelican Island on the east coast of Florida, in which latter place 

 they are now protected from further depredations at the hand of eggers and 

 gunners. Their fishing tactics differ from those of the White Pelican. 



They dive down upon 

 the school of fish from 

 the air and rarely miss 

 making a good catch. 

 Their nests are quite 

 bulky structures made of 

 sticks and weeds and 

 grasses. These are gen- 

 erally located on the 

 ground but occasionally 

 in low mangroves, these 

 latter nests being more 

 bulky than the ground 

 ones. They lay from 

 two to five chalky white 

 eggs during May and 

 June. Size 3. x 1.90. 

 Data. Tampa Bay, Fla., 

 [Chalky White.] May 29, 1894. Three 



eggs. Nest in the top of a stout mangrove; made of sticks, branches and 



leaves. Collector, Geo. Graham. 



