40 BIRDS OF ALABAMA 



to have arrived in the sound early in March and were seen 

 once at the mouth of Bayou Labatre. Near the same place, 

 November 12 and 17, 1915, smaller flocks were seen resting 

 on the bars. W. L. Bryant states that these birds in good 

 sized flocks usually spend the entire winter in that vicinity. 



General habits. — The white pelican never dives for its food, 

 as does the brown pelican, but captures fish by pursuing them 

 on the surface, thrusting the head and neck into the water 

 for its prey. According to Audubon fishing is carried on 

 chiefly in the early morning and before sunset, the birds re- 

 maining inactive during a great part of the day. At times, 

 however, a flock will mount high in air and indulge in ex- 

 tended gyrations, after the manner of cranes or the wood 

 ibis.t 



Food habits. — The white pelican feeds mainly on fish, but 

 is known to eat also salamanders, crawfish, and tadpoles. 



BROWN PELICAN; "BLUE PELICAN": Pelecanus occi- 

 dentalis occidentalis Linnaeus. 



State records. — The brown pelican is a common resident in 

 the waters of Baldwin and Mobile Counties, but apparently 

 does not breed within the State. Occasionally it is seen in 

 the upper part of Mobile Bay near the city but more frequent- 

 ly nearer the Gulf. At Bon Secour in October, 1908, I found 

 the birds common, and good-sized flocks were seen on the 

 Gulf beach at the mouth of Perdido Bay, in January, 1912, 

 and on December 8, 1915. In Mississippi Sound they are 

 moderately common at all seasons and on Dauphin Island are 

 at times abundant. About 30 were seen in the surf at the 

 west point of the island on February 13 and a smaller num- 

 ber, March 19, 1912. On May 18 and 19, 1911, upward of 

 200 were seen about the island, and in July, 1913, and June, 

 1914, the species was observed commonly there. Eight indi- 

 viduals were seen sitting on piles near the shore at Point 

 Clear, July 13, 1913, and a few were observed next day fish- 

 ing in the lower bay. 



General habits. — These big birds are not particularly wary 

 and their interesting habits may easily be observed. Fre- 



fAudubon, J. J., Ornith. Bioe., vol. 4, pp. 9t-9S, 1838. 



