218 FULLY WEB-FOOTED BIRDS 



flying spraj 7 " tells the story of the plunge with open pouch for 

 the luckless fish. 



For several years the fate of the great Pelican colony in 

 Indian River remained in doubt, and its preservation was due 

 more to public sentiment in Brevard County than to the arm 

 of the law. In 1903, however, Pelican Island was formally 

 declared to be a Government reservation, and placed under 

 the absolute control of the Biological Survey, thus insuring 

 the permanent protection of its occupants. Among the is- 

 lands of the west coast of Florida this Pelican is even now 

 (1914) the most conspicuous bird. In 1913 a pair nested in 

 the Flying Cage of the New York Zoological Park, and reared 

 a fine, new Pelican, and two pairs nested there in the spring 

 of 1914. 



The California Brown Pelican 1 so closely resembles 

 the Florida species that the differences between the two are 

 not easily recognized. The accompanying illustration is from 

 a photograph taken on the Galapagos Islands, directly under 

 the Equator; and from that locality this species ranges north- 

 ward along the Pacific coast to British Columbia. 



The Great White Pelican 2 is a grand bird — big, clean, 

 immaculate, and with the dignity of a newly appointed judge. 

 About him there are two bad things. In captivity his ap- 

 petite for fresh fish makes him a costly luxury, and his Latin 

 name always frightens timid people. 



The curious horn seen in winter and spring atop of the 

 bill of this bird is purely a sexual ornament, found only on 



1 Pel-e-ca'nus californicus. 



2 Pel-e-ca'nus er-ijth-ro-rhyn'chos. Length, CI inches; spread of wings, 8 feet 

 10 inches; weight, 10. 50 pounds. 



