PELECANID.E THE PELICANS. 199 



where the water for some fifteen rods, and with a depth of about 

 six inches, was rippling and dashing over the rocks, a natural 

 feeding ground for the fishes. The birds, after first bathing and 

 dressing their feathers, giving particular attention to their pri- 

 maries, without any unity of action, as hunger moved them, 

 floated down over the rapids, picking up the fishes here and 

 there, until the still water below was reached, when they would 

 rise and fly back, to float down again, leisurely repeating this 

 mode of fishing until it was quite dark." 



Captain Charles E. Bendire, U. S. A., while stationed at Camp 

 Harney, enjoyed unusual opportunities for observing the breed- 

 ing-habits of this species in eastern Oregon. He found it a very 

 common summer resident in that region, making its appearance 

 early in spring, before the lakes are free from ice, and moving 

 south early in November. It bred in large numbers on several 

 of the small islands in the eastern part of Lake Malheur, begin- 

 ning as early as April 12, the nest being a mere depression 

 scraped in the sand. The number of eggs in a nest was usually 

 two, occasionally three, and in rare instances five were found in 

 the same nest ; but these were perhaps the product of more than 

 one female. It bred in communities, the nests being about a 

 yard apart. Eggs placed under a hen were hatched out in twenty- 

 nine days. 



The eggs of this species have a rough surface, on account of 

 the very uneven thickness of the chalky exterior coat, which has 

 a tendency to form irregular corrugations and other inequalities 

 of surface. The normal color is chalky white, but this is often 

 discolored by conspicuous blood-stains. Their dimensions aver- 

 age about 3.45x2.30 inches. 



Pelecanus fuscus Linn. 



BROWN PELICAN. 



Popular synonyms. Pelecano: Alcatraz (Mexico). 



Pelecanus fuscus LINN. S. N. ed. 12, i, 1766, 215. NUTT Man. ii, 1831. 476. AUD. Orn. Biog. ill, 

 1835, 376; v. 1839, 212; Synop. 1839, 212; B. Am. vii, 1844, 32, pis. 423, 424. LAWE. in 

 Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 870. BATED, Cat. B. N. Am. 1859, No. 616. COUES, Key, 1872, 

 300; Check List, 1873. No. 527: 2d ed. 1882. No. 749. EIDGW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 

 641; Man. N. Am. B. 1887, 82. B. B. & E. Water B. N. Am. ii, 1884, 139. A. O. U 

 Check List, 1886. No. 126. 



Leptopelicanus fuscus EEICHENB. Syst. Av. 1852, p. vii. 

 Onocrotalus fuscus BONAP. Consp. ii, 1856. 163. 



