64 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



Pelecanus fuscus, L. — Brown Pelican. 



Abundant along the coast, and in the bayous and lagoons adjoining-. 

 In going down, I was too early for their eggs, and, in coming back, too 

 late. At Padre and Mustang Islands, they were very abundant, and a 

 set of two eggs, laid after I left, was sent me from there, where they 

 breed on the small sand islands, in great numbers, along with Gulls and 

 Terns. Two eggs sent me from Padre Island measure 3.20 by 2.00 and 

 2.90 by 1.93. 



GRACDLID^. 



Graculus mexicanus, {Brandt) Bp. — Mexican Cormorant. 



Frequently seen on the extreme southern border, both about the salt 

 ponds and marshes and the fresh-water lagoons up the river. I saw 

 them in flocks of a dozen or more, but generally in pairs or groups of 

 three or four. I have seen them swimming, standing on the shore, 

 and perched on snags over the water. 'No nests were found, but they 

 undoubtedly breed there, particularly near the coast. I did not notice 

 any at Hidalgo. Other members of this family were seen in great num- 

 bers on the coast going down, but none obtained. 



70— $ —26.00 X 40.25 x 10.25 x 6.50. Mar. 24, Brownsville. 



LARIDiE. 



LAEtrs ARGENT ATUS, Briinn. — Herring Gull. 



Not noticed far below Galveston, where, March 1st, they were very 

 abundant and moulting. 



Laeus delawarensis, Ord. — Ring-billed Gull. 



Very abundant at Galveston, March 1st, where it was in company 

 with L. argentatus and L. atricilla. It was not noticed farther south 

 than Indianola. 



Larus ATRICILLA, L. — Laughing Gull. 



Everywhere abundant coastwise, especially so about Corpus Christi 

 Bay. On May 16th, when at the marshes, we would meet this bird-in 

 small companies. By their actions, I knew their nests were near, and 

 yet I did not come upon them. They are less wary and more numerous 

 than any other Gull or Tern on the coast. 



10— $ —17.00 X 44.00 X 14.00 x 5.00. Mar. 3, Galveston. 

 Ill— ,?— 16.25 X 42.00 X 12.75 x 4.25. Mar. 29, Brownsville. 



Sterna anglica, Montagu. — Marsh Tern. 



This Tern was observed at almost all points along the coast as I went 

 down. At Galveston, March 1st, it was in company with Sterna caspia^ 

 Caspian Tern, and Sterna forsteri, Forster's Tern, in about equal pro- 

 portions. At Nueces Bay and Corpus Christi Pass, it was quite com- 

 mon. On May 16th, when collecting eggs of Stilt, Mimantopus nigri- 

 colUs, and Forster's Tern, Sterna forsteri, I found on the same island, 



