THE WHITE PELICAN 387 



ventured to within twenty feet of me. As they became more 

 confident, the low, deep murmur of their voices increased in 

 volume, and seemed singularly conversational. 



The struggling mass of young birds which had retreated 

 from me was slowly disentangled. Some were pulled at 

 with the bill, some were fed, and gradually peace and order 

 were restored ; but at all times the blind was as closely 

 watched as a suspicious character. At last my opportunity 

 had come, and with note-book and camera, I worked as 

 effectively as the fascination of my position permitted, 

 observing definitely many things half seen before and 

 others before unknown, and securing a series of unique pic- 

 tures recording a phase of bird-life which the ornithologists 

 of a succeeding generation will doubtless examine with the 

 interest that we would give to photographs of a Great Auk 

 colony. 



. 



Walking Past the Blind 



Only Government intervention will save the great bird 

 settlements of this plains region. The emigrants who are 

 pouring into it, confronted by primitive conditions, meet the 

 demands of the moment without thought of the future. A 



