PELECANID J: — THE PELICANS — PELECAN US. 143 



Pelecanus (fuscus?) califomicus. 



THE CAUFOBNIAN BBOWN PELICAN. 



?? Pelecanus MoliiioB, Gray, Gen. B. III. 1845 (Xumeii midum !). 



?? Pelecanus Molincc, "GuAY," Scl. P. Z. S. 1868, 269. — Elliot, P. Z. S. 1869, 588, pi. 44 



(young ?). 

 Pelecanus fuscus, AucT. (all citations from the Pacific coast of the United States anil Mexico, south, 



at least, to Cape St. Lucas). 



Had. Pacific coast, from San Francisco to Cape St. Lucas. (Also probably Pacific coast of 

 Mexico and Central America.) 



Sp. Char. Similar to P. fuscus, but decidedly larger, the gular sac, in breedin}^-pluma{,'e, 

 reddish instead of greenish, and thechestnut of the nape usually much darker (often nearly Mack). 

 " Bare skin around eye, brown ; base and much of pouch deep red " (fresh colors of an adult male 

 "in breeding-plumage and condition" shot Feb. 24, 1882, at La Paz, Lower California ; cf. Bel- 

 uiN«, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. Vol. 5, 1883, p. 545). Culmen, 12.25-14.75 inches ; wing, 20.50- 

 23.25. 



In Volume V. of the " Proceedings" of the United States National Museum, p. 545, the follow- 

 ing connuents occur conceining a specimen of Brown Pelican from La Paz, Lower California, 

 collected by Mr. L. Belding : "In the . . . specimen sent, the back of the neck is a rich brownish 

 black, (piitc difi'erent from the seal-brown or chestnut of all eastern specimens I have seen. Audu- 

 bdii describes the color of the naked orbits [of P. fuscus] as pink, the naked skin about the base of 

 the liiil as deep blue, and the pouch greenish black. Thus it would seem that the soft parts are 

 very ilill'erently colored. Should this difl'erence prove constant, tiie western bird woidd have to be 

 separated as a race." 



In dried skins it is unfortunately not possible to detect the original color of the soft parts ; but 

 a second example received iVom Mr. Belding (No. 90035, U. S. National Museum, 9 '»*!•, San Jose, 

 Ldwer California, Feb. 8, 18S2), agrees closely with the male, the red color of the pouch being at 

 tliis date (April 25, 1884) very perceptible. Both tlie.se specimens are decidedly larger than any 

 We have .seen from Florida, the We.st Indies, or other localities on the Atlantic side ; and on c(>m- 

 paring three adults from San Francisco Bay (the only a<lditional ones from the Pacific side that we 

 have bei'ii able to examine), we find tliem to agree in larger size. Only one of tliem is in summer 

 plumage, however, and this (Xo. !)!)58, U. S. Nat. Mus., ^ ad.) lias tlie nape light chestnut, as 

 ill some of the lighter colored eastern examples; but the featliers of this i)art of the plumage 

 appear worn and faded. It may be that the suppo.sed difference in the cidor of the najie will 

 not prove sufficiently constant to serve as a diagno.-itic character ; but even if this should l)e the 

 case the difl'erence in dimensions '•* and in tlie color of the soft parts is of itsell', in our opinion, 

 sulliciciit to justify the recognition of two species or races. 



It maybe that this bird is the '^ Pelecanus Molinir, (hiAV," of Messrs. Sclater and Elliot, us 

 cited in the synonymy ; but from the very meagre descriiitions given it is unfortunately ipiite 

 iiiipiis.sible to tell with certainty. 



Tlie account of the habits of Californian specimens given under the head of P. fuscus of course 

 refer to the present form. 



' No. 86384, V. S. Nat. Mus. ; La Paz, Feb. 24, 1882. 



^ The live adult examples of P. cnlifornicus com|iared with seven adults of P. fuscus as follows, the 

 u.Ktieiuii and average measurements being given : — 



Wing. 

 P. mlifomicHS, 20.50-23.25 (21.75) 

 P. fuscus, 18.50-21.00 (19.79) 



Bill, fnim Imsc of fiilmen. 



12.2.5-14.75 (12.90) 



9.40-12.20 (11.12) 



P 



* 



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