4G8 BROWN PELICAN. 



nnd under win? and tail coverts, centrally streaked with white. Patch on breast, pale straw color. Iris, white, bill, hoary 

 with edge* of lower mandible and tip of upper, red. Naked space about head, and gular sac. greenish-brown. Feet, slaty- 

 blue. Youny. biinilar, but lacks the brown on neck, and the colors throughout aro much paler. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the comparatively small size and dark colors. In winter the brown of the neck is replaced by white and the 

 iris is brown. Distributed as a constant resident in Florida. Rare a far north as Massachusetts. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Florida. Length, 48-25; stretch, 79'25; wing, 20-25; tail, 6'13; bill, 12 00; 

 tarsus, 1'50. Longest specimen, 54'00; greatest extent of wing, 85'00; longest wing, 21-00; tail, 7 00; bill, 12-50; tarsus, 

 3 00. Shortest specimen, 44-50; smallest extent of wing, 73'50; shortest wing, 19'50; tail, 5'25; lull, 1T50; tarsus, 2-00. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGUS. 



Nests, placed on the ground or in trees, composed of sticks, lined with weeds, grass, etc. Eiiyi, two in number, oval 

 form, and white in color, covered with a white calcareous deposit. Dimensions from l-80x2''*0 to 2' 15x3' 10. 



HABITS. 



The Brown Pelicans are exceedingly abundant in Florida, not only on the coast, but 

 among the Keys and jn the salt water lagoons. Their method of fishing is quite different 

 from that practiced by the preceding species, for they fly along some ten feet over the wa- 

 ter, then when they preceive a school of fish, will drop awkwardly among them, seizing as 

 many as they can, after which the water is forced from the pouch and the prey swallowed. 

 If the fishes which they are catching, chance to be small, some will escape, and the Laugh- 

 ing Gulls, taking advantage of this fact, will alight with half-spread wings, on the huge 

 heads of the Pelicans, in order to catch the escaping prey. The good-natured Pelicans ap- 

 pear to take this act as a matter of course, for I never saw one attempt to attack a Gull 

 when it was so engaged. Unlike the White Pelicans, the Brown do not soar after feed- 

 ing but sit quietly ou the sand bars or perch on the mangroves until the meal is digested, 

 and when thus resting, the bill is held quite perpendicularly as is the custom with other 

 Pelicans. When flying, these large birds move in ranks by alternate flapping and sailing, 

 all the members of a flock acting in concert. 



When breeding, the Brown Pelicans select particular localities and will return to them 

 year after year to nest, gathering for this purpose from miles around. Thus I know of 

 but one breeding ground on the east coast of Florida, that is Pelican Island in Indian Riv- 

 er, near the inlet, where thousands congregate, and one or two on the west coast in about 

 the same latitude; but, singularly, those on the east side of the peninsula deposit their 

 eggs early in March, at least a month sooner than those on the west. The bulky nests aro 

 placed on the ground or in trees, and the birds are so unsuspicious when sitting, that they 

 may be easily captured. These breeding places are always in a filthy condition. 



FAMILY in. GRACULIDA;. THE CORMORANTS. 



Bill, shorter than head and hooked at tip. Gular sac, small. Sternum, considera- 

 bly lonyer than wide. Coracoids, not as as long as sternum. Keel, projected well forward. 

 The oesophagus is straight and somewhat dilated. Proventriculus, rather large, with 

 the glands arranged in an irregular, zonular band. Stomach, quite large but not muscu- 

 lar. Coeca, very small. Sternum, quite well arched, with the central posterior margin, 

 indented, but having a wide, shallow scallop on either side. Keel occupies only about one 

 half the leng;h of sternum. Furcula, quite long, at first ascending perpendicularly, then 

 bont backward to tip of keel. Tail, rather long, rounded, and stiffened. Head, crested. 



