384 



THE WHITE PELICAN 



Having now secured the requisite data, specimens and 

 photographs on which to base a group of White Pelicans, I 

 abandoned their pursuit. The following season, however, 

 brought me an exceptional opportunity to resume my study 

 of these shy birds. 



Pelican Scratching its Neck 



In southern Saskatchewan, whither I had gone for Wild 

 Geese and Grebes, I learned that the White Pelicans which 

 pass through the region to more northern existing resorts, 

 had this year remained to nest in large numbers. An unus- 

 ually late spring, and an abnormal supply of fish supplied by 

 damming a stream which flowed into the lake, were evidently 

 the incentives which had induced the birds to remain south 

 of their regular nesting limit. 



At least 3000 birds settled on a small mud- bar in Big 

 Stick Lake. A few pairs of Pelicans had been known to nest 

 here before, but there was no record of such a snowy gather- 

 ing as made the bar conspicuously white at a distance of 



