102 



FLORIDA BIRD-LIFE 



own, who, once he has entered his claim, is generally permit- 

 ted to work it in peace. On occasions, however, the old bird 

 does not escape so easily and two and even three of the 

 young equalling her in size succeed in getting their heads 



down her throat which 

 she expands in a way a 

 boa constrictor might 

 envy. It might be imag- 

 ined that the best posi- 

 tion for the adult to 

 assume during this really 

 terrible operation would 

 be on the ground where 

 the neck could be ex- 

 panded and the distance 

 to the fish shortened, and 

 this indeed is the posi- 

 tion from which the 

 young are commonly 

 permitted to secure their 

 food ; but not infre- 

 quently a feeding bird 

 perched on a stub as high as three feet and stretched down 

 her head and much contracted neck toward the young on the 

 ground below. 



The parent does not, of course, always have to fight its 

 way through a mob to feed its offspring. Often only a bird 

 or two is to be driven off and on such occasions the rightful 

 young assist, the method of attack employed by both being 

 thrusts of the bill from which no harm appears to follow. 

 The actions of the rejected young bird are remarkable. With 

 an only-son air he prances confidently up to the food-bear- 

 ing adult and without so much as by your leave attempts to 

 insert his bill. When, however, he receives a blow where he 

 expected a fish, his demonstrations of disappointment are 

 uncontrolled. He acts like a bird demented, swinging his 



Pelican Feeding a Young Bird Larger 

 than Itself 



