TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS 



126'. BROWN PELICAN. Pelecanus occidental. 



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 green- 

 ish 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 



Brown Pelican 



White Pelican 



Chalky white 



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 mak- 

 ing a good catch. Their nests are quite bulky structures made of sticks and 

 weeds and grasses. These are generally 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., May 29, 1894. Three eggs. Nest in the top of 

 a stout mangrove; made of sticks, branches and leaves. Collector, Geo. Graham. 



127. CALIFORNIA BROWN PELICAN. Pelecanus calif ornicus. 



Range. Pacific coast from British Columbia south to the Galapagos Islands. 



This bird is similar to the preceding, but larger and the pouch is reddish. 

 They breed abundantly on the Coronado Islands and southward. Their habits, 

 nesting habits and eggs are the same as those of the Brown Pelican. Size of 

 the three or four chalky white eggs is 3.10 x 1.95. Data. Coronado Islands, 

 Calif., March 28, 1897. Three eggs. Nest of sticks, lined with green leaves, 

 located on the ground. Collector, H. McConville. 



85 



