506 OBSERVATIONS ON THE PELICAN 
with a pink tinge ; tail of a delicate pale pink ; irides reddish 
hazel, almost carbuncle red in some lights ; the orbital region 
a lemon yellow ; the forehead considerably swelled (at least 
in the male) ; the bill of a deep blood red, especially at the edges ; 
the mid-rib and base of upper and lower mandibles of a still 
deeper dull leaden color; the nail deep blood red; pouch deep 
gamboge yellow; the tarsus, toes and webs are of a pale lemon 
yellow, with the front portion of a pinkish yellow, with some- 
times a few dark purple scales, which, however, disappear altoge- 
ther in the old adult. The stiff white feathers on upper portion 
of breast gradually get of a very pale buff yellow, then pale 
golden, and finally a deep golden yellow, probably in the very 
old bird a ferruginous golden yellow, as some of the birds 
I shot but did not skin had their breast feathers of a reddish 
golden yellow, after which probably may come the ferruginous 
stage. The mid-rib in the adult is raised about ;;th inch 
over the rest of the upper mandible. 
I will now proceed to give the changes of each particular 
part in detail :-- 
hides in young bird are of a light brown color, gradually 
changing into a hazel, and finally into a deep reddish hazel, 
almost carbuncle red in some lights, 
Orbital region at first a very pale pinkish leaden grey, then 
a pale livid fleshy, and finally a pale lemon yellow, deeper in 
tint according to age. The forehead in the adult male is 
considerably swelled. 
Bill, first year bird.—A_ pale pinkish leaden color slightly 
darker than orbital region, with the nail dusky yellow, pale 
at tip; edges of upper mandible are a deep brown, shading 
off into the pale leaden color of sides and mid-rib. This 
latter is slightly convex and rises on a level with sides of 
mid-rib. ; 
Second year bird —The mid-rib and base of upper and lower 
mandibles get of a deep leaden color, while the brown edging 
of the upper mandible gives place to a pale golden yellow ; 
the edge of lower mandible also at base gets of a pale yellow; 
the nail reddish yellow; later on in the year the mid-rib and 
base of upper and lower mandibles increase in duskiness, the 
pale golden yellow edging of upper mandible changes to light 
red with streaks of red radiating towards mid-rib, portion 
between mid-rib and edges of a pale gamboge yellow, with a 
few dusky greenish blotches ; the nail becomes pale red, paler 
at tip. The edging of under mandible is now near base of a 
dusky yellowish red, towards tip a pale yellow. The mid-rib 
is now slightly raised from rest of upper mandible. 
Third year.—The mid-rib and base of upper and lower mandi- 
bles become a deep leaden grey or lavender ; the base of mid-rib. 
