LIST AND DESCRIPTION 49 



It would not surprise us to hear of an occasional nest of 

 any of the migratory Gulls or Terns being found in the north- 

 eastern part of the State, for those that are now stragglers doubt- 

 less nested in the State when the country was new. 



FAMILY PHALACROCORACID^. CORMORANTS 

 120. Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus auritus.) 



This beautiful bird is a rare migrant in the eastern part of 

 the State and probably does not nest here. Three specimens 

 taken from this locality are in the University Museum. 



Head, neck and under parts black; back brown mixed with 

 black; throat orange; tufts on sides of head just above eyes dur- 

 ing breeding season; tip oibill hooked. They use the strong tail 

 feathers as a third leg in standing. 



FAMILY PELECANID^. PELICANS 

 125. White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos.) 



We have the Pelicans only in migration when large flocks 

 are seen in May resting on sandbars along the Missouri River. 

 Later they may be found for a few days on any of the larger 

 lakes in the eastern part of the State. They are the last of our 

 large swimmers to come north in spring, and the first to return 

 south in autumn. Their nesting haunts at present are in Can- 

 ada, Yellowstone Park, Utah, California, and Oregon. 



In water they are sluggish, which probably accounts for 

 many of them being shot every year in the State, although they 

 are not edible. 



The plumage is white, save for the black outer under- 

 wing feathers. They measure about five feet from tip of bill 

 to end of tail, but the long yellow bill, with pouch underneath, 

 takes up at least twelve inches. The pouch is probably not used 

 for carrying a supply of food, as many think, but for scooping 

 up minnows in shallow water. The regurgitated food is depos- 

 ited in this bag, and from it the young feed. 



FAMILY ANATID^. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 

 This family is divided into five sub-families: Merginse, 



