PELECANUS. 143 



Mr. Kidgway and other American ornithologists, as it is said to differ from the true 

 P.fmcus in having the gular pouch red near the base during the breeding-season, 

 which is corroborated by Mr. Anthony. The eastern P. fuscus is stated to have a dark 

 pouch, variously described as dull green, olive-brown, or even purple. Mr. Alvin Seale, 

 a well-known Californian collector, writing to Mr. OgUvie Grant, is inclined to doubt 

 the distinctness of P. calif ornicus, as, according to his experience, the colour of the 

 pouch varies from yellowish to dusky ; hence, there being a diversity of opinion on 

 the subject, we have united the two supposed races under the heading oi P. fuscus. 



P. fuscus is often found in considerable numbers along the Atlantic coast of Central 

 America. It breeds on the islands, and Salvin visited a settlement of these birds on 

 Saddle Cay, off the coast of British Honduras, on May 9th, 1862, but, though they were 

 there in plenty, he could find no trace of nests in the trees in which they are said to 

 build. The master of his schooner declared that the Pelicans built there in the months 

 of November and December, and that as soon as the young could fly the old birds 

 pulled the nests down. They sat on mangrove boughs for hours preening their feathers 

 with their long hooked bills, all the time keeping their balance with ease, even when a 

 strong wind tried the security of their footing. There are few sea-birds more interesting 

 to observe than Pelicans fishing. Four or five usually rise in company and flying 

 round to get the requisite impetus and height, with neck drawn in and beak slightly 

 depressed, they suddenly, as it were, stop short in the air, and dash with outstretched 

 neck into the water upon the shoal of fish ; on coming to the surface they rest there 

 but a moment to bolt the prey, which is done by throwing the bill upwards, thus 

 distending the pouch ^^. 



The nests are large platforms of sticks, lined with fine roots and withered plants, 

 forming a shallow basin ; they are built on the mangroves, often side by side, covering 

 the summit of the trees. The eggs are chalky-white, with a rosy tint when fresh, and 

 measure — axis 2-85-2-95, diam. 1-9-20 inches. 



2. Pelecanus erytkrorhynchus. 



Pelecanus erythrorhynchus, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 571 (1788)'; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 233'; 

 Salv. Ibis, 1865, p. 197'; Duges, La Nat. i. p. 142'; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. 

 p. 316"; Bull. U. S, Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 50°; Herrera, La Nat. (2) i. pp. 188', 330'; 

 A. O. U. Check-]. N. Amer. Birds, p. 45 ' ; Ogilvie Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvi. 

 p. 481 ". 

 Pelecanus trachyrhynchus, Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 379 " ; Sumichr. La Nat. v. p. 235 ". 

 Pure albus, minime eristatus ; tectricibns primariorum remigibusque nigris, secundariis extus cano lavatis, 

 intimis albis dorso coucoloribus ; mandibulae lateribus dense albo plamatis : rostro aurantiaco, culmine 

 paUidiore, ungue terminali tomiisque rubescentibus, mandibnla basia versus rubesceutiore ; gula nuda 

 pallide flava, basin versus aurantiaca; pedibus aurantiaco-rubris ; iride margaritacea ; regione nuda 

 oculari aurantiaca. Long, tota circa 66-0, alae 23-0, caudse 5-5, culm. 14-5, tarsi 4-85. (Descr. maris 

 adnlti ex Huamacbal. Mus. nostr.) 



