The California Brown Pelican 



modest requirement. Although usually described as "white," immaculate 

 eggs of the California Brown Pelican are the exception. Indeed, the aspect 

 of the eggs was singularly and unexpectedly varied. Fresh eggs were in 

 most instances richly pigmented with continuous longitudinal streaks of 

 dull reddish olive, evidently a direct derivative of blood. Often the point 

 of origin of the streaking is quite one side of the apex of the egg; and as 

 often the streaking ceases before reaching the smaller end. It is customary 

 to call this streaking "blood marks," and to remove it in preparing speci- 

 mens for the cabinet. It is, rather, however, to be regarded as the primi- 

 tive pigment, the precursor of oorhodine, and we have preserved it 

 religiously in the M. C. 0. series as an exhibit of color-in-the-making. 



Most pelicans' eggs soon become soiled ; and as incubation ad- 

 vances are of a dirty brown color, more or less glossy. The resultant 

 shade is determined primarily by the relative cleanliness of the parent 

 bird, and also to a lesser extent by the character of the nest lining. Two 

 varieties of this artificially imposed color are worthy of special men- 

 tion. First and rarest is a rich dark gray-green pigment, which is de- 

 rived from contact with wet seaweed. I have seen this dyeing in process, 

 and am of opinion that certain ingredients of the fucoid react upon the 

 lime of the shell, so that a liquescent blister is raised, which in drying 

 becomes a handsome and, apparently, permanent green. The other 

 variety of coloring matter is supplied by crude oil, doubtless oftenest 

 derived from the soiled plumage of the parent bird, but often, also, from 

 blobs of oil adhering to seaweed and other floating vegetation. Of this 

 type we have examples which are a nearly uniform brownish black. 



Elsewhere in these pages I have scouted the claim that eggs of 

 northern sea-birds are ever "fishy," or unfit for use as food. Candor 

 compels me to confess that in the person of the California Brown Pelican's 

 egg, this theory has met its Waterloo. Twice I endeavored (in the only 

 conclusive fashion) to defend my views, but the memory of those attempts 

 is sufficient. I resign. The gulls can have 'em. 



So far, also, as mere gastronomies is concerned, the gulls can have 

 the hairless squabs which issue from the eggs. A young pelican is not 

 black, like a cormorant, but rather of a livid reddish brown — say, Zulu- 

 color, as contrasted with Hottentot. However, the color has nothing 

 to do with the flavor, and we expressly deny the rights of the gull to 

 gastronomic discussion of either of them. 



Heigh ho! here we are on the top of the island yet, and the sun 

 is sinking through its last octant. A smart breeze has sprung up from 

 the north, and our launch has been compelled to anchor around on 

 the south lee. There is nothing for it but to make our way over these 

 cliffs with ropes. This is easy enough for mere humans, but cameras 



1981 



