4 WILD WINGS 



most of the area was an open expanse, overgrown with tall 

 weeds and grass, except for two considerable sandy tracts at 

 the east and southwest corners. Both of these tracts were 

 fairly covered with an army of great birds, about the size of 

 geese, each of a general grayish color above and dark brown 

 beneath, with long brown and white neck and enormous bill 

 with pendant pouch that was held pointed downward in a 

 most ridiculously solemn, pompous fashion. There were, too, 

 a few of the birds located at the northwestern end, and also 

 smaller overflow colonies on at least two other islands about 

 a quarter of a mile eastward. These are the Brown Pelican, a 

 Southern species, entirely different from our only other kind, 

 the American White Pelican, which is snow-white, with black 

 wing-tips, and is found mostly in the interior and on the 

 Gulf of Mexico, breeding on islands in lakes from Minnesota 

 northward. 



From time immemorial this little island has been the prin- 

 cipal, if not the only, breeding-ground of the Brown Pelicans 

 of the east coast of Florida. Though there are hundreds of 

 other islands apparently just as good, this one alone has 

 attracted the pelicans. Dastardly plume-hunters have at 

 times all but annihilated them ; swinish egg-collectors have 

 robbed them of every egg in sight ; yet still they remain 

 faithful to the old home-land of their ancestors. Creatures of 

 habit they are, like the chickens that persist in roosting in 

 the orchard, despite the advent of winter weather. 



Our boat was now closely approaching the east end of the 

 island, directed by the guide, while we held ready our cam- 

 eras, expecting at every moment to see the birds rise in a 

 cloud and leave the vicinity. To make sure of present oppor- 

 tunity, we took snap-shots as the birds still sat on their nests. 

 Then we prepared in earnest for the grand flight. The boat 

 was run ashore abreast of the colony, but without alarming 



