PELICANS AS OBSERVED IN EASTERN EUROPE. 365 



percnopterus) from a dead and putrid cow. A very large flock 

 of Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) was also seen, and on the 

 reedy shores of the lake many Squacco Herons (Ardea ralloides), 

 and Little Egrets {Herodias garzetta). The whole lake, which 

 was of large extent, appeared to be grown over with dense reeds, 

 except in one or two open places, which could be seen in the dis- 

 tance from the hills. But we could see no signs of nesting 

 Pelicans, and the natives assured us that none nested there. 



We turned our backs then on this lake, after a rest and 

 something to eat under the shade of a big fig-tree, and rode for 

 some hours over the hills through a thick scrubby forest, follow- 

 ing a narrow track which wound in and out of the trees, until we 

 arrived in the evening at a small village. At the house of the chief 

 inhabitant, a well-to-do peasant, we found an hospitable welcome. 

 My friend, myself, and our host were waited upon, as we sat at 

 dinner on the floor around a low table about four inches high, by 

 six gigantic Albanians, each with a double row of shining cart- 

 ridges round his waist ; their rifles hung ready for instant use 

 on the walls, which were loopholed for musketry fire. It turned 

 out that the master of the house had a blood feud or "vendetta" 

 hanging over him, and had to maintain a bodyguard of ten 

 men as a protection. Nevertheless, in the morning he rode 

 out on his mare to accompany us a part of our way, and to 

 engage for us two fishermen as guides to a neighbouring 

 lagoon, where he thought the Pelicans might possibly be found. 

 These two fishermen were wild-looking fellows, with faces like 

 Eagles, and were clad in loose brown garments. They assured 

 us that the Pelicans were nesting, and that they could take us 

 to the place. As on cross-examination they really seemed to 

 know what they were talking about, and knew, for example, the 

 right colour of a Pelican's egg, and how many were laid, our 

 hopes began to revive. One of them could speak Italian, like 

 most of the fishermen and sailors on this coast, and seemed 

 more intelligent than one might expect from his appearance. We 

 lost no time, and were soon afloat in two rude dug-out canoes, 

 which the men managed skilfully with single paddles. In the 

 far distance we soon saw a mass of white objects. These, they 

 told us, were Pelicans on their nests, and we scrutinized them 

 eagerly through our glasses as we advanced. At first sitting, as 



