FAMILY PELECANID^E 



Found along the Atlantic coast. Any tropic 

 bird seen near the Atlantic entrance to the Canal 

 is most likely to be of this species, which breeds 

 in Cuba, Jamaica and others of the Greater 

 Antilles, and at Bermuda, and is the common 

 species in the Caribbean. It is not found on the 

 Pacific side. 



22. Family PELECANID^E 



The Pelicans 



The characters and appearance of these 

 birds are well known. Their great size, some- 

 what duck-like build with very long wings and 

 short legs, completely webbed feet (the hind 

 toe being directed laterally and also joined 

 to the others with a web) , long neck, long bill 

 hooked at the end and provided below with 

 an immense pouch of skin and the very long 

 wings and short tail, give them a distinctive 

 appearance that will be recognized on first 

 sight. The few species of pelicans occur in 

 tropical regions and also in many temperate 

 ones if they have not been exterminated. 



i. Pelecanus occidentalis Linnaeus 

 Brown Pelican 



Sexes similar. Length about 1275 mm. (50.00 



in.); tail about 152 mm. (6.00 in.). Most of 

 top of head and sides of neck bordering throat 

 pouch, white; rest of neck chestnut brown; re- 

 maining upper parts ashy gray, the feathers 

 bordered with dusky; lower parts brown striped 

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