ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



^37 



ri.i KAN> \r.( Ji I si\ \i\\ -, I II 1). 



giw assuraiKi', that li\- tlir |irn\i(ling ol nian\' 

 and trcqucnt repasts i>f fisli, anvthing in a])])(.ar- 

 ance like liL-rself can be evolvei! from tliat objeet 

 in the nest belore her. Naked, blind anil 

 prostrate, it seems impossible that this atmn- 

 phous, flesh-coloured squirming organism can In- 

 aught but some hideous monstrosit\' o| nature — 

 some cliangeling ot" the e\il vulture spirits 

 hovering ever near. 



But let us look into this neighboring nest 

 where are two little pelicans which have been 

 out in the world tor tive or six days. .\s we 

 approach, they make a brave 

 effort to lift themselves and face 

 us, but tliey totter with weakness 

 and their tiny heads waggle riilic- 

 ulously. Tiiey have true pelican 

 grit however, and open their 

 beaks, soft as they yet are, utter 

 a spasmodic whisper of a hiss, 

 and — collapse in a heap. Thous- 

 ands of feather pimjiles cover 

 their necks and bodies, which in 

 a few days will burst and tlu \ 

 will be comjjletely covered with a 

 soft white tlown. At this stage 

 of growth young pelicans lose all 

 their ugliness and soon become 

 strong enough to descend from 

 their natal pile of sticks and 

 wander around at will. We find 

 that those of the same age enjoy 

 each cjthers society and, althougli 

 here and there a pelican in the 

 downy dress is occupying a nest, 

 the majorit}' from now on spend 



their lite in wan<l(ring about, ten 

 or twenty together. These are 

 alisolutely fearless and when we 

 a|)|)roach, they make a ferocious 

 show of attack, lunging at us and 

 snapping their beaks viciously. 

 One very interesting fact is that 

 these birds can make a vigorous 

 outcry, while all adult pelicans 

 are absoluteU without \i)ice, a 

 snuke-likr h iss being the only 

 soimil in their power. I'lie young 

 birds utter an odd cry : at a dis- 

 I.URe it soinids like the shrill 

 laughter of young children. U'e 

 wonder il the realization of this 

 change to a voiceless contlition 

 ever comes to the young birds. 

 I'hey gabble incessantly, setting 

 uj) a clK>rus at the ap|)roach of 

 lood or foe indifferently. It cer- 

 tainly is a means of communi- 

 cation, and the thought occurs to 

 us whetlier the old birds do not 

 Sometimes listen to them longingly, and wish for 

 another chance to "have their say." \ s]ilendi(l 

 opportunity for whoever wishes to draw a moral. 

 .\fter tlie young pelicans have fully actpiired 

 their plumage or down, their appearance remains 

 unchanged for some time, except that they in- 

 crease quite rapidly in size. Soon the leathers 

 of the wings begin to sprout, and before long the 

 wings and a little jiatch on each shoulder are 

 covered with good sized brown feathers. W'e 

 notice three distinct grades, those in the downv 

 stage, others in a coiulition of hall-moult, ami 



OPEN LHKIR HKAKS .\Mi HISS SOFri.\. 



