268 MR. p. L. SCLATER ON THE PELICANS [May 11, 



The. plumage is brown above, below much paler; wings and tail 

 brownish grey. 



5. Pelecanus conspicillatus. 



The Australian Pelican was a desideratum in the Society's series 

 until 1864, when one was obtained by purchase, which is still living 

 in the Gardens. Two other specimens were presented shortly 

 afterwards by the Acclimatization Society of Victoria, but have been 

 lost. In this species there appears to be but little change in the 

 breeding-season, except that the plumage becomes generally brighter 

 and purer. 



6. Pelecanus fuscus. (Plate XXV.) 



Of this species the Society received two specimens (both males, as 

 subsequently ascertained by dissection) from their late Corresponding 

 Member, Capt. Abbott, in 1854. These birds lived many years 

 in the Gardens — one having died in the spring of 1867, and the other 

 only a few weeks since. Every year, in the month of February, 

 they put on the fine nuptial plumage shown in the sketch now 

 exhibited (PI. XXV., front figure). The back of the neck becomes 

 of a deep rich coffee-brown, with a pure-white longitudinal stripe 

 between it and the gular sac ; the gular sac itself becomes darker, 

 and the whole plumage brighter. Some time in August this plu- 

 mage is put off, and the bird appears in the more sombre colour 

 shown in the second sketch (PI. XXV., hinder figures). 



These changes of plumage not having been well understood, I 

 have thought it important that a record should be made of them. 

 It appears to have been supposed by Audubon* and other writers 

 on American ornithology that the white-necked plumage is peculiar 

 to the female. Our observations show that this is not the case, 

 both our males having adopted it upon the termination of the 

 breeding-season. Whether the females ever adopt the black and 

 white neck and corresponding changes of plumage I cannot say, 

 as we have not as yet possessed specimens of that sex. 



1 will now add a few remarks upon the species of Pelican that 

 have not yet been exhibited in the Society's living series. These 

 are, as far as I am acquainted with the group, four, namely two 

 American (P. trachyrhynchus and P. molincs) and two Asiatic (P. 

 javanicus and P. philippensis). 



P. javanicus, Horsfieldf, has the frontal feathers produced into 

 an acute angle, as in P. onocrotalus — but never attains the j)endu- 

 lous crest of that species and of P. mitratus, having merely a short 

 recurved crest on the nape. Several skins of this species are iu the 

 collection formed by Capt. Beavan in British Burmah. 



P. j)hilij)pensi's is, as admitted by all authors, a close ally of P. 

 ru/escens; but I agree with Prince Bonaparte (C. R. xUii. p. 5/4, 



* Birds of America, vii. p. 20(\ 



t The bird described by Jerdon (B. Ind. iii. p. 8.57) as F.javcmints appeai-s 

 to be P. mifratvs ; ^Yhile his P. onocrnfabis (/. c. p. 854) is probably the true 

 javanir/is (Ct Blylh. J.- A. S. B. xviii. p. 821). 



