1877.] 147 [Bendire. 



the spring before the lakes are fairly free of ice, and leaving for 

 southern parts in the commencement of November. It breeds in 

 large numbers on several of the small islands in the eastern part of 

 Malheur Lake, commencing to deposit its eggs as early as April 12. 

 The nest is a mere depression scraped in the sand, and usually con- 

 tains two eggs, occasionally three. I have, however, found -as many 

 as five in a single nest. They breed in communities, the nests being 

 about a yard apart. 1 The peculiar projection on the bill of the birds 

 commonly called the centre-board,js not restricted to the male alone; 

 the female has it as well, and it is perhaps only wanting in immature 

 birds. 2 The birds found on Malheur Lake agree pretty well with 

 Latham's description, excepting the pinkish tinge. Not a single 

 specimen examined by me showed even a trace of pink. The occip- 

 ital crest varies in my specimens from three and a half to four and a 

 quarter inches in length, the feathers being almost white, only in a 

 few instances there is a very faint tinge of pale straw yellow per- 

 ceptible in it. The lower mandibles in all the specimens examined 

 show the black spot in the central portion mentioned by Latham. 

 These' spots are irrregular in outline, and average about a quarter of 

 an inch in diameter. They consequently differ from the bird de- 

 scribed by Mr. Ridgway taken at Pyramid Lake, Nevada, on May 

 28, 1868, in this, — that they have a decided occipital crest, which is 

 wanting in his specimens examined, and not a single one showed the 

 occipital region covered by a patch of dark brownish grey, which 

 seems to have been characteristic in all the specimens examined by 

 him, and that they all show a black spot on the lower mandible 

 which is wanting in his. Otherwise his description agrees with the 

 bird found here. Through the kindness of Lieut. George R. Bacon, 

 U. S. Army, I am enabled to give the measurements of four speci- 

 mens shot by him April 23, 1876, and taken at the time. No. 1, 

 adult male, length 63.75; to tip of claws, 68; extent of wings, 103.50; 

 wing, 24.25 ; tail 8 ; culmen, 15 inches. Iris ashy white, tarsi and 

 feet rich bright orange red, nail of bill yellow. No. 2, cf, length, 

 62.25; tip of claws, 65.75; extent of wings, 102.25; wing, 24; tail, 



1 See the Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History. Vol. xvin, 

 Oct. 6, 1875, pp. 165-167. 



2 Judging from the minute description given hy Mr. Robert Ridgway, in an 

 article published in the "American Sportsman," August 8, 1874, relating to these 

 birds, it would appear that we have two distinct varieties of white pelicans in 

 the west, if not two good species. 



