KEEL-BREASTED BIRDS. 



247 



The Pelicans (PeUcamda}^ of which two species are 

 known in the United States, are distinguished by their 

 long beaks hooked at the end, and enormous pouch, de- 

 pending from the lower mandible. The brown pelican 

 (Pelecanus fuscus) (Fig. 282) is common in the South. 



VALUE. The oil of various gulls is used by the Esquimaux as 

 lamp-oil. The breast-feathers of gulls are valuable in trade and used 

 as "roll-plumes." 



The White 

 Pelican (P. 



trachyrhynchus} 

 ranges from north- 

 ern Florida north- 

 ward, and former- 

 ly bred about the 

 Great Salt Lake. 

 They never dive 

 for fish, but swim 

 along, plunging 

 their heads into the 

 water, relying upon 



their quickness. They shed their crest in a manner some- 

 what similar to the casting of a deer's horns. 



VALUE. The brown pelican is eaten at St. Thomas, and the leather 

 of the pouch and fur is utilized. 



The Frigate - Birds (Tachypetidce), or man-of-war 

 hawks (Fig. 283), are confined to the warmer regions. The 

 membrane beneath the throat is a bright vermilion. The 

 bill is long, sharp, and hooked at the end, the wings long 

 and extremely powerful,* the tail forked. On Ascension 



* At Tortugas, Fla., it was the custom of a number of these birds to 

 station themselves over the lighthouse about two thousand yards up, 

 during the prevalence of the heaviest gales, and through the glass 

 they seemed to rest on the wind, the wings being merely outstretched, 

 and no movement being noticed except an occasional pitching down, 



FIG. 283. Frigate bird (Tachypetes aquila). 



