AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN. 63 



nterior. It is the one we see most frequently in Southern Ontario, 

 and Macoun mentions having found it breeding abundantly in Lake 

 Winnipegosis. 



Dr. Hatch, in the " Birds of Minnesota," describes it as a common 

 summer resident which " local observers from all parts of the State 

 report from 'occasional' to 'innumerable,' according to the nearness 

 of the observer to the breeding places of the birds." The preparations 

 for incubation are made about the 10th of May, in large communities 

 on islands in the lakes and ponds and almost impenetrable marshes, 

 where there are some large old trees, in which they most frequently 

 build their coarse but substantial nests. These are usually bulky 

 from having been added to every year, and consist of weeds, vines 

 and sticks, piled together carelessly around a deep depression, in 

 which is deposited the three pale greenish or bluish eggs. It is not 

 ;ui uncommon sight to see one or more of these nests on the same 

 tree in which are a number of heron nests, and the owners seem to 

 live in harmony. 



When the young are sufficiently grown, they gather into immense 

 flocks in unfrequented sections, and remain until the ice-lid has closed 

 over their supply of food, when they go away, not tf) return till the 

 cover is lifted up in the spring. 



Family PELECANID^. 



Subgenus CYRTOPELICANUS Reiciienbach. 



PELECANUS ERYTHRORHYNCHOS (Jmkl. 



33. American White Pelican. (125) 



White; occiput and breast, yellow; primaries, their coverts, bastard quills 

 and many secondaries, black ; bill, sac, lores and feet, yellow. Length, about 4 

 feet ; expanse, 7-9 ; wing, 2 ; bill, 1 or more ; tail, 4, normally 24-feathered. 



Hab. — Temperate North America, north in the interior to about Lat. 61, 

 south to Central America ; now rare or accidental in the north-eastern States ; 

 abundant in the Middle Province and along the Gulf coast; common on the 

 coast of California and western Mexico. 



Nest, on the ground or in a low bush neai' the water. 



Eggs, one to three, dull white. 



Early in the month of May, 1864, five of these large, odd-looking 

 birds were observed on Hamilton Bay, and were accorded the atten- 



