THE BROWN PELICAN 



285 



It is an amiable bird, sociable to an unlimited 

 degree, harms no one, and makes no enemies. 



Pelican Island, in Indian River, Brevard 

 County, Florida, is the most interesting sight 

 in the land of flowers. On an area of about 

 three acres, raised only two or three feet above 

 high-water mark, destitute of trees because the 

 Pelicans have nested them to death, live about 

 2,000 Brown Pelicans, and in 1G02 they made 

 976 nests. During every breeding-season they 



babies, as large as their parents, but covered all 

 over with down as white as cotton. 



It is no uncommon thing for a young Pelican 

 to have from six to nine mullet in its neck and 

 crop at one time, as we have discovered by 

 catching some of them with a search-warrant, 

 and searching their premises. 



To feed these hungry and appallingly capacious 

 pouches, the old birds fly about fifteen miles 

 up the coast to fishing-grounds where silver 



Photographed by R. J. Beck. 



ages Islands. 



CALIFORNIA BROWN PELICAN. 



inhabit that islet, nesting in small nests of grass 

 plucked on the spot, and arranged on the ground. 

 The few dead mangroves that still stand are 

 loaded with stick-made nests, to the point of 

 breaking down. 



Egg-laying begins about the first of February, 

 and straggles along until the end of May. By 

 March 15, the breeding-grounds contain in 

 close proximity, unfinished nests, and nests 

 with fresh eggs (usually three); young just out 

 of the shell; half-grown young, and, finally, full- 

 grown young. The latter are great hulking 



mullet are plentiful and cheap; and there each 

 old bird fills its neck and crop with from six to 

 nine fish, each from seven to ten inches in length. 

 At evening, just before sunset, in groups of 

 from three to seven they slowly wing their way 

 back along the beach, flying low over the saw 

 palmettos that fringe the shore. They give 

 about six wing-beats, then sail as far as possible, 

 each little company winging in unison. Several 

 times I have lain low in the palmettos, to watch 

 their flight at a distance of only a few feet as 

 they approached and passed over me. 



