Harris Birds of the Kansas City Region. 229 



of civilization until but a few pairs remain in the sunken re- 

 gions of southeast Missouri. 



Family PHALACROCORACIDAE. Cormorants. 



PHALACROCORAX AURITUS AURITUS (Lesson). Double-crested 



Cormorant. 

 Rather rare migrant. 



All available records but one of the occurrence of this bird 

 here are in October and November, though it is known to pass 

 regularly in the spring (two specimens, April 17, 1904, Dank- 

 ers). 



During occasional migrations it is seen in considerable num- 

 bers, as in 1904, when, on October 24th, a flock of between 100 

 and 150 were' seen perched in the trees along the river bank 

 across from the Big Eddy. Two specimens were taken from this 

 flock. Again in the same year on November 17th a flock of 

 twenty was observed on the river near Courtney. 



The river fishermen know this bird as the Water-Turkey and 

 state that rarely a season passes without their seeing it. 



Family PELECANIDAE. Pelicans. 



PELECANUS ERYTHRORHYNCHOS Gmelin. White Pelican. 

 Common migrant. 



This locality is fortunate in being favored with spring and 

 autumn visits from this, the largest member of the North Ameri- 

 can Avifauna. 



Pelicans arrive from the south during the last week of March 

 or very early in April and return from the 13th to 25th of 

 September, straggling along in varying numbers until late in 

 November. 



They are still seen in considerable numbers, though not in 

 such abundance as formerly. They seem to be holding their 

 own of late years in spite of the odds against them. 



Flocks of several hundreds of these majestic birds are often 

 seen flying high over the Missouri Valley, when they present 

 a sight not easily forgotten, as with alternate series of flapping 

 and sailing they make their way rapidly along. Unless at too 

 high an altitude they are not to be mistaken for any other water 

 bird. 



They have on at least one occasion been seen to make their 



