108 FLORIDA BIRD-LIFE 



Most of the birds fish at sea and even if they took valuable 

 food fish, lovers of birds as well as lovers of fish are to be 

 considered. Better spare a mullet or two than rob the air 

 of one of its distinguished citizens. When the day comes in 

 which everything interfering with our acquisition of dollars 

 and cents must be destroyed, the world will indeed be a fit 

 abode for those who have despoiled it. 



After feeding its young, the adult, if it is not too late, 

 often goes a short distance off shore to bathe, with much 

 loud slapping of wings and dashing of spray. The bath 

 finished it comes to the beach to preen its feathers. A very 

 large part of the time of both adult and young is given to 

 the care of their plumage. The foot evidently can reach only 

 the side of the neck and the loud rasping scratching of this 

 part of the body is one of the characteristic sounds of island 

 life. 



After the feathers are dressed the birds generally go for 

 a promenade in the sky when they rise to a thousand feet or 

 more above their home, and, on set wings, sail in wide 

 circles apparently for pure enjoyment of the exercise. At 

 such times they are often joined by the young which are on 

 the wing. 



When several thousand birds of one species not only 

 select the same bit of ground for a residence but build their 

 homes side by side, one might infer that they possessed 

 marked sociability of character ; but I have looked in vain 

 for any evidence of friendly or communal relations between 

 the thickly grouped Pelican households. The virtual voice- 

 lessness of adult Pelicans implies in itself a limited means 

 of communication. The birds steal one another's nesting- 

 material with an air which plainly bespeaks a knowledge of 

 their guilt and that they expect punishment from the birds 

 they have robbed. This may lead to a bloodless fight in 

 which the contestants snap their mandibles with pistol-like 

 report or grasp each other by the bill to struggle for a few 

 seconds. Beyond these occasional little difficulties I have 



