The California Brown Pelican 



fish is good, this feathered hydroplane heaves to upon the water. With 

 beak held perpendicularly, or nearly so, he surveys the depths with tiny 

 beady eyes, or thrusts again and again with a stroke as swift and sure as 

 that of Cousin Ardea, he of the strong spear. 



The Pelican, too, is the pledge and symbol of Nature's bounty. He 

 is a wholesaler. Two — six — a dozen fish at a catch — or a bite — it is all 

 one to him; and he is prepared to take care of an enormous haul. They 

 are necessarily small fish which are handled by such means, — surface- 

 feeders which the human "trade" scarcely begrudges. Pelicano is, per- 



Taken on Anacapa 



THE CHARGE OF THE HEAVY ESCADRILLE 



Photo by the Author 



force, a peddler too. He has to share his good fortune, whether willingly 

 or no, with certain light-fingered gentry, purse-snatchers and hangers-on. 

 The Heermann Gull is the worst of pickpockets. One of these birds will 

 attach himself to a Pelican and idle about by the hour watching his patron 

 and victim, and hurrying up to snatch a share, even from the very throat 

 of his host, whenever there is booty. Western Gulls sometimes indulge 

 this practice, but they are less adept, and even, I have fancied, a little 

 ashamed. 



1972 



