466 WHITE PELICAN. 



HABITS. 



The Booby Gannets occur on the coast of Florida in considerable numbers but do not 

 now breed anywhere on the west side of the Gulf Stream, though they nest abundantly on 

 the Bahamas. Those that I have seen on the Florida coast, had similar -habits to those of 

 the preceding species. These Gannets have been taken on one or two occasions as far north 

 as Massachusetts but this is much beyond their usual range. 



FAMILY II. PELECANID^E. THE PELICANS. 



Bill, excessively elongated and hooked at tip. Gular sac, very large. Sternum, but 

 little longer than wide. Coracoids, at least as long as sternum. 



The oesophagus is straight and very wide. Proveirtriculus, large with glands arranged 

 in a zonular band, the internal surface of which is either rugose or in ridges. Stomach 

 small and not muscular. Coeca, moderately well developed. Sternum, well arched, with 

 the central posterior margin projected, and indented on either side with two wide scallops. 

 Keel projecting forward very slightly and occupies a little more than one half the length of 

 the sternum. Coracoids at least as long as sternum. Tail, short and rounded. Head, 

 crested. 



GENUS I. PELECANUS. THE PELICANS. 



GEN. Cn. Similar to thosp given under family heading. Members of this genus are remarkable on account of the 

 long bill and enormous gular sac. Sexes, similar. There are two species within our limits.- 



PELECANUS ERYTHRORHYNCHUS. 



White Pelican. 



Pelecanus erythrorhynchus GM., Syst. Nat., I; 1788, 571. 

 DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. Cii. Form, robust. Size, very large. Bill, with a central elevation on termini'.l half. COLOR. Adult. Pure 

 white with primaries and nearly all of secondaries, black. Center of scapularies and tail feathers, deep salmon. Spot on 

 brea-st and wing coverts, pale straw. Iris, white, bill, yellow strongly tinged with red, feet, orange, naked space about 

 head and gular sac, yellow. Youny, similar to adult ; the bright markings are paler and there is no central elevation on bill. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the peculiar form and white color After moulting in autumn the back of the head becomes quite gray, the 

 central elevation of bill falls off and the iris is brown. This stage of plumage, however, is exceedingly transient, but the 

 iris remains brown until the following spring. Distributed, in summer, throughout Western North America from Utah, 

 northward ; rare in Florida at this season. Winters in the South. Accidental on the Northern Atlantic coast. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 65'50; stretch, 102-50; wing, 24'38, tail, O'SOjbill, 

 14'00; tarsus, 4 63. Longest specimen, 70"00; greatest extent of wing, 105 25; longest wing, 24-75; tail, 7" Id: bill, I4'55: tar- 

 sus, 4'75. Shortest specimen, 6M5; smallest extent of wing, lOO'OO; shortest wing, 24MK); tail, 6'S5; bill, 13'50; tarsus, 4'50. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nesti, placed on the ground near the water, composed of sticks, weeds, etc. Eyys, one or two in number, oval in form, 

 and white in color, covered with a calcareous deposit. Dimensions from 2'20 x 3- 15 to 2'35 x 3'20. 



HABITS. 



I found the magnificent birds, which form the subject of the present sketch, quite 

 common on Indian River in winter, but they only occupied the limited section of country 

 which lies between the Haulover Canal and Merritt's Island. The White Pelicans were, 

 however, remarkably abundant on the Gulf coast about Cedar Keys, but did not occur in 

 any numbers much south of this point. When feeding, these fine Pelicans swim along the 

 water and capture their prey by thrusting their long bill, and occasionally the entire head, 

 beneath the surface of the water, then the bill is raised, the pouch contracted, forcing the 



