132 DALMATIAN PELICAN. 



first, as I have, by the kindness of Mr. Tristram, a fine specimen 

 before me. 



The Dalmatian Pelican, equally with the White Pelican, inhabits 

 the east of Europe and north of Africa, but is also common in Hungary, 

 Dalmatia, Moldavia, the Crimea, Greece, and the Ionian Islands. It 

 is also found in Algeria, according to Captain Loche and Mr. Tristram; 

 and it ranges even to China, as noted in the "Ibis," vol. ii, by 

 Mr. Swinhoe. 



Salvadori (Fauna d'ltalia) says of this bird: — "Bonaparte has been 

 the first, as far as I know, to announce this species as an Italian 

 bird, (Faun. Ital., introd.) But to do away with every doubt, it would 

 have been necessary that Bonaparte should have adduced some proof 

 to sustain his assertion. Later Contarini has asserted that it some- 

 times appears in Venetia, and it appears other Venetian ornithologists 

 have repeated this upon his authority. I do not think any other 

 announcement has been made, and although it is not improbable that 

 it should occur in Italy, as it is found in Dalmatia and Greece, 

 still I cannot conceal the doubt of there being some error in the 

 determination of the species by Contarini, and I therefore announce 

 it very doubtfully." 



Of its occurrence in Greece we have the testimony of several writers. 

 Count Miihle, "Orn. Griech.," p. 132, says, — "It is very plentiful 

 in Greece the whole year through, and on many lakes and swamps, 

 such as Zigeri, Kopai, and Paralynni, are broad colonies of them. 

 They are also very plentiful on the lakes of Missolonghi and 

 Thermopylae. In places incredibly difficult to reach, where floating 

 islands are found, they place their nests very thickly together, supported 

 among the reeds and rushes, and generally soaked with wet. The 

 whole neighbourhood of these congregated nests is covered with their 

 dull white dung and a multitude of foul fish which they have dropped 

 about, and which makes the spot horribly ofiensive." 



"My friend, Lieut. Freyberg, assured me that after much search 

 in these breeding-places, he had found in a nest — if we may call 

 the hole they use by siich a name — a full-grown young one, and 

 another only covered with down, which can only be explained by 

 the supposition that two females had each laid an egg in the same 

 nest. 



"The yellow grey young birds have a very unsightly appearance, 

 and these never-satisfied screamers, with their shrill shrieking voice 

 and the unformed head hanging on their crop, make an unsightly 

 picture. 



"Near the nest the old ones are not shy, and if you can get to 



