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A VISIT TO A BREEDING-PLACE OF THE PELICAN. 255 
flying about. After having looked at this highly interesting 
scene for some time we resolved to make a raid upon these fine 
birds, in order to ascertain, amongst other things, with which 
species we had to deal. A few powerful strokes of the oars sent 
us out upon the lake. Here the number of eggs lying about 
upon the islands was surprising. On looking through the reeds 
we saw quantities everywhere. Before commencing a detailed 
examination of this breeding-place, we rowed directly to the 
opposite reed-border to secure some good specimens, as men- 
tioned above, but were surprised at not seeing any breeding 
birds—all the eggs were deserted. On approaching the patch of 
water-lilies above referred to, our attention was attracted by a 
flock of little Sea Swallows, which flew screaming over our heads, 
and appeared much frightened. Now and then a pair of these 
little birds came down into the dense cover. The leaves of 
Nymphea here reach about a foot above the surface of the water, 
and form one confused mass with the floating plants. For the 
moment we deferred a close investigation, but at once recognised 
Sterna hybrida, and supposed this to be one of their breeding- 
places; Ferdinand confirmed this. We cautiously approached 
the flock of Pelicans; but, much to our disappointment, the shy 
birds rose before we were within shooting range; they were 
almost exclusively Pelecanus onocrotalus, old birds, which took 
flight at once. Only a small number, forty or fifty, alighted on 
the water again at some hundred yards distance. These were 
young birds which could not yet fly properly, and to our great 
surprise were all P. crispus. Only two greyish-brown birds, in 
downy plumage, had remained behind, and tried to escape by 
paddling along violently. We quickly gave chase, rowing after 
them and trying to seize them with our hands—by no means an 
easy task. Only when we directed both boats on one of the birds 
did we succeed in catching it. With the other one we went to 
work in the same way, but it escaped into the dense reeds, and 
thus we lost it, as we could not possibly follow it. The fledged 
flock of P. crispus swam about in a closely-packed column upon 
the lake, and we did not pursue them, although it would have 
been an easy matter to have annihilated the whole lot in a short 
time. We must not omit to describe the peculiar behaviour of 
the Pelecanus crispus which we caught alive at starting. In vain 
the bird made efforts to use its wings and fly away on becoming 
