PELECANID^ — THE PELICANS — PELECANUS. 



133 



Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. 



THE AMEBICAN WHITE PELICAN. 



Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, Gmel. S. N. I. ii. 1788, 571. — Baird, B, N. Am. 1858, 868; Cat. N. 



Am. B. 1859, no. 615. —Elliot, P. Z. S. 1869, 588 (monographic). 

 Pelecanus trachyrhynchos, Lath. Lid. Orn. IL 1790, 884 (based on Kough-billed Pelican, Synoj). VL 



1790, 586). — CouES, Key, 1872, 300 ; Check List, 1873, no. 526 ; 2d ed. 1882, no. 748 ; B. N. 



W. 1874, 586 (synonomy). 

 Pelecanus onocrotalus ("A variety"), Fokstek, Philos. Trans. LXIL 1772, 419. 

 Pelecanus thaytcs (nee MoL.), Stephens, Cen. Zool. Xlll. 1826, 117 (Mexico). 

 Pelecanus onocrotalus, Bonap. Synop. 1828, 400 (not of Linn.).— Sw. & PacH. F. B. A. II. 1831, 



472. — NuTT. Man. IL 1834, 471. 

 Pelecanus Hernandezii, Wagl. Isis, 1832, p. 1233 (Mexico). 

 Pelecanus americanus, AuD. Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, 88, pL 311 ; Synop. 1839, 309 ; B. Am. VII. 1844, 



20, pi. 422. 

 Pelecanus occipitalis, Ridgw. Am. Sportsman, IV. \^1i, 297 (Nevada). 



Hab. Temperate North America, north in the interior to about lat. 61°, south to Central 

 America ; rare or casual in the North Atlantic States, abundant in the Middle Province and along 

 the Gulf coast. 



Sp. Char. Tail-feathers, 24. Malar region completely feathered ; color chiefly white ; bill, 

 pouch, and feet light-yellowish or reddish. Adult, in full breeding-plumage : Culmen with a 



P. erythrorhynchos. 



narrow median horny excrescence, situated a little anterior to the middle of the culmen, the 

 upper outline more or less convex, the fibres vertical, the size and exact shape variable. Plu- 

 mage white, sometimes tinged with pale pinkish, the narrow lesser wing-coverts and jugular 

 plumes straw yellow or (rarely) purplish buff ; primaries dull black, their shafts wliite toward the 

 base ; secondaries dusky, edged both externally and internally with ashy-white. Upper part of 

 the nape with a pendant crest of long, narrow, silky, pure white or pale straw-colored feathers. 



