AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 



63 



in different countries, and hence not subjected to the same 

 physical circumstances. This, it is well known, will not 

 only induce variations in colour, and size, but even in the 

 form and development of certain parts. At the same time 

 that we allow this, we agree with Mr. Swainson, that too 

 much latitude has been given to the meaning of the word 

 variety, so that in its general acceptation, its definition be- 

 comes impossible; its true meaning is, an animal or other 

 production of nature, possessing one or more characters 

 which are changeable and uncertain, and which, conse- 

 quently, will not serve as indications by which it may in- 

 fallibly be distinguished from all others. 



For the following account of the Rough billed Pelican, 

 we are indebted to Mr. T. Peale, whose well earned repu- 

 tation in natural history, requires no eulogy from us. 



The bird is entirely white, with the exception of the 

 primaries and nine first secondaries, which are black, as are 

 likewise the next six, except on their external edge; crest, 

 plumes of the breast and lesser wing coverts, with a faint 

 tinge of yellow. Plumes of the crest silky, and about four 

 inches in length; those of the neck very soft and pointed. 

 Tertials, coverts, and feathers of the breast and belly, long 

 and silky. Bill flesh coloured; pouch, orbits, legs, and feet, 

 orange yellow; a blackish spot on the pouch near the extre- 

 mity of the bill, which assumes the appearance of inter- 

 rupted lines when this part is distended. Tail rounded, 

 consisting of twenty-two feathers, (in a specimen from the 

 Missouri, there were twenty-four. ) All the specimens we 

 have seen were destitute of the black spot on the bill, men- 

 tioned by Latham. Spurious wings, black; first and fifth 

 primaries equal, three intermediate feathers also equal, but 

 longer than the first and fifth; shafts white, those of the 

 secondaries black. Iris, dark brown. The dimensions of 

 a fine specimen were, length, five feet two and a half inches; 

 extent, seven feet nine and three quarter inches; bill, fif- 

 teen and a quarter inches; tarsus, four and a quarter; height 

 of rugosity on bill, two inches; weight, thirty pounds. 



To such of our readers as have visited the estuaries of 

 the Florida coast, the demure and awkward attitude of this 

 bird must be perfectly familiar. In that portion of our 

 country, this species occurs in large flocks, but they are 

 also often to be seen along the shores of the Mississippi and 

 Missouri, imparting a peculiar character to the otherwise 

 solitary scene, their solemn and quiet demeanor being in 

 strict unison with the stillness of the uninhabited plains 

 which surround them. They do not, however, remain 

 throughout the whole year on our western waters, migra- 

 ting to the south during the autumn months, and returning 

 early in the spring. Specimens have been killed at Council 

 Bluffs as early as the 8th of April, some of which were of 

 great size, the pouch of one obtained by Mr. Peale, being 



capable of containing upwards of four gallons of water, 

 although when empty, such was its elasticity, that it hung 

 but a few inches below the bill. 



The individual from which our drawing was made, was 

 shot, with its companion, a few miles below Philadelphia, 

 and presented to the Museum by Mr. P. Brandt. These 

 birds very seldom occur so far north on the Atlantic coast, 

 the only other instance with which we are acquainted, were 

 a pair which were killed in New York harbour a few years 

 since. Latham, however, mentions that they are found in 

 Hudson's bay. On the western rivers they may be seen as 

 high as the 42d degree. 



They build in societies, and seldom are found except in 

 flocks. On the mangrove islands in Musquito river, East 

 Florida, both the present species and the brown (^P.fusciis,) 

 breed in vast numbers, but always select separate islands. 

 Mr. Peale visited some of these spots during the winter, and 

 although not the breeding season, found that they still col- 

 lected in great numbers every night, for the purpose of 

 roosting, apparently arriving from great distances, and 

 evincing strong attachment to the place of their birth. The 

 mangroves were covered with the remains of old nests; 

 these were principally composed of sticks, and several 

 nests were to be seen in the same tree, generally at about 

 eight to ten feet from the ground. We have no precise 

 information as to the eggs, but believe that they are two in 

 number, and of a white colour. In the months of June and 

 July, the inhabitants of the surrounding country collect 

 great numbers of the young birds, before they are able to 

 fly, for the sake of the oil they afford; this is said to burn 

 freely, and to furnish a clear light. When flocks of these 

 birds are disturbed they rise in much confusion, but soon 

 form in regular order, usually flying in long lines, though 

 sometimes in a triangle like geese, with their long bills rest- 

 ing on their breasts, in the manner represented in our plate. 



C. L. Buonaparte has confounded this bird with iXieftis- 

 cus, from which, however, it appears to be very distinct, 

 both in appearance and habits. The adult bird of the brown 

 Pelican is blackish-ash, back and wings hoary; crown yel- 

 lowish; neck deep chesnut, margined on each side with 

 white. Middle nail serrated internally. In the species 

 under consideration, the whole plumage is white, with 

 the exceptions we have already noticed. The nail of the 

 middle toe is smooth. In fact we should be more inclined 

 to consider it as a variety of the onocrotalus than of the 

 fuscus. But it differs from both these in its habits. The 

 latter soar over the water and take their prey by plunging, 

 whilst the Rough billed obtains its food in swimming, scoop- 

 ing up mullets and other fish as with a net; it also occurs 

 along rivers far in the interior, the other species being 

 almost exclusively confined to the coast. 



