28 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



year, at each successive moult, they grow paler, until, 

 at the sixth year, they assume the fully adult dress. 



Large numbers of Gannets breed on the rocks at 

 the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, in company with 

 many other forms of sea-birds. As many as nine 

 species are known, and all are remarkable for the fact 

 that under the skin is a wonderful system of air-cells, 

 which serve to break the force of the impact with the 

 water when the birds dive for their food. Like the 

 Cormorants, Darters, and Penguins, the Gannets 

 have no external nostrils, but breathe only through 

 the mouth. See Plate 37, Fig. 217. 



Pelicans, Teopic Birds, and Frigate Birds 



These birds are very remarkable types, nearly re- 

 lated to one another, and to the Cormorants and 

 Gannets. 



Pelicans are found in all the continents of the world. 

 The European White Pelican, which is figured, is a 

 native of Southern Europe and Africa, ranging east- 

 ward into Northern India. The American White 

 Pelican closely resembles it, and breeds extensively 

 in the northwestern parts of the United States, nota- 

 bly on lakes in California and Oregon, and on islands 

 in Lake Utah, Utah. These are the largest of the 

 Pelicans, having a wing-spread of eight and a half 

 feet. A curious thing about these birds is that al- 

 though the feathers are pure white, after immersion 

 in the water they have a delicate pink hue, which 

 slowly fades as they become dry. All Pelicans are 

 provided with a pouch of skin which hangs down from 



