THE NIDIOLOGIST. 



37 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE CALIFOR- 

 NIA BROWN PELICAN. 



The California Brown Pelican, on account 

 of its large size and singular bill, with its 

 immense pouch beneath (for the accom- 

 modation of salt provisions) is one of the 

 most striking objects of the sea-shore all 

 alone the coast during the fall and winter. 

 At Monterey Bay, where I have observed 

 them most, they are very unsuspecting, 

 cruizing along the rock-girt shore in con- 

 siderable numbers. 



Many are seen in flocks, with lonely 

 stragglers here and there, while others 

 seem to be still pursuing their adventures 

 in pairs. When flying in company, they 

 commonly play at "follow the leader," each 

 succeeding Pelican following closely in the 

 line of flight, so that when their captain 

 flies higher or lower the line of big. soldiers 

 describes a graceful curve. 



These curious "troopers of the raging 

 main" are great fishers. A thoughtful 

 looking Pelican comes flapping along, per- 

 haps about fifteen feet above the water, 

 and when there is a good fish near the 

 surface you see him pause uncertainly^ in 

 the air and point his long, spear-like bill 

 down to the almost perpendicular, and in a 

 second his wings slant back, and down he 

 goes with a rush, sending the sprsLj in 

 every direction and stunning his finny 

 quarry before it has time to wink. The 

 great splash hides the fisher entirely from 

 view, and as he re-appears he is observed 

 gulping the big mouthful into his conveni- 

 ent pouch. All this occupies but a brief 

 space of time, and with a lumberly struggle 

 of wings, touching the waves with his feet 

 for a short distance, he is ofi", carrying an 

 important air, as though he had remarkably 

 pressing business in hand. Occasionally 

 the Pelican rests on the water awhile after 

 the capture, looking very sedate and pen- 

 sive, with his great bill dropped down closely 

 to his breast. Sometimes the fish is found 

 to be so large that the bird is compelled to 

 oo thronyli a ludicrous struggle before he 



can dispose of it, and trying to rise from 

 the water he seems to exert himself pain- 

 fully. 



When on the outlook for fish the Pelicans 

 are usually soaring, and with their great 

 bills inclined downward at a sharp angle, 

 their vigilant eyes apparently scanning tbe 

 water's uttermost depths. 



On some occasions I have noticed the^r 

 operations marked by a thoughtful discrim- 

 ination, suggesting the intelligence of 

 superior fishermen. In the cove opposite 

 Pacific Grove Retreat, formed by a point of 

 rock, where I often sat to watch the bird 

 travelers about the bay, two Pelicans used 

 to come a-fishing, and they met with great 

 success. They would make broad circles 

 of observation, but always returned to the 

 one spot, as if they knew perfect! 5^ well 

 that at that stage of the tide the fishing 

 ground was there and nowhere else. 



The Gulls are always ready to help dis- 

 pose of any bird's dinner, and I have often 

 seen one try to steal from a Pelican. It is 

 very probable that the big bird's ample 

 pouch baffles them every time. 



H. R. Taylor. 



DOMESTICATING WILD DUCKS AND 

 GEESE. 



Dr. R. F. Miller has succeeded, on his 

 ranch in Solano county, California, in 

 hatching out Mallard Duck's eggs, the 

 young growing to maturity. They asso- 

 ciated with the tame Ducks for several 

 years, without attempting to leave, although 

 their wings were undipped, and they would 

 fly from one part of the yard to another. 



Teal Ducks were also raised among the 

 poultry from young taken from their nests 

 in the tules. 



The Doctor relates an odd e.Kperience 

 with a wild Goose which had been '^vinged" 

 and kept alive. It soon got d(.mesticated, 

 and was quite a pet. In time it could fly 

 quite well. 



One day in the spring it disappeared. It 

 was marked on one leg, but no one expect- 

 ed to ever .see it again. 



