93 FLORIDA BIRD-LIFE 



As a rule the bird on the nest is not attended by its mate, 

 who may be feeding, bathing, resting on the shore, or sailing 

 high in the air. The returning bird alights near the nest 

 and, with bill pointed to the zenith, advances slowly, waving 

 its head from side to side. At the same time the sitting 

 bird sticks its bill vertically into the nest, twitches its half- 

 spread wings, and utters a low, husky, gasping chuck, the 

 only note I have ever heard issue from the throat of an adult 

 wild Brown Pelican. After five or six wand-like passes of 

 its upraised head, the advancing bird pauses, when both 

 birds, with apparent unconcern begin to preen their feath- 

 ers, and a moment later the bird that has been on duty steps 

 off the nest, and the new comer at once takes its place. 



This was the ' ' ceremony ' ' in its full development ; often 

 it was not so complete. Doubtless it possesses some sexual 

 significance, and observation points to the conclusion that 

 the relieving bird is the male and that the ceremony is omit- 

 ted when he gives place to his mate. 



There was apparently no such regularity in this event as 

 exists, for example, among incubating Pigeons with which 

 each sex spends its appointed time on the nest. 



The Young. The young Pelican is distinguished chiefly 

 by the surprising amount of noise it makes. It can be heard 

 almost before it can be seen ; as with only the tip of its bill 

 visible it announces by a choking grunt its early release 

 from the egg. 



In ' ' Bird Studies with a Camera ' ' I have given some 

 account of the growth of young Pelicans, and it may be 

 stated here merely, that the young are livid black, naked, 

 and blind at birth ; the eyes open the second day and at the 

 age of ten or twelve days a white down makes its appear- 

 ance which in about a week more completely covers the chick. 

 This is followed by the grayish brown plumage of flight 

 which first appears upon the wings and is fully acquired 

 when the bird is about ten weeks old. 



The voice, at first a choking bark, passes through a rasp- 



