NATATORES. 



357 



performed by the Rough-billed or White Pelican. It migrates in flocks, 

 which fly in diagonal lines." 



Dr. Pickering alludes to this species as having been observed in 

 considerable numbers at the mouth of the Columbia River, usually in 

 small flocks, and also in the Sacramento River. In his notes made 

 during a boat-voyage up the latter, we find the following : 



" September 9th, 1841. Landed in various places, and once on a 

 small rocky islet, where great numbers of Shags, Gulls, and Pelicans, 

 had been disturbed at our approach. The last were not, however, so 

 numerous as the former. Several Pelicans were seen fishing, which 

 was accomplished with more grace and apparent success than would 

 readily be supposed from the general appearance of this bird. In this 

 instance, the wind was blowing rather freshly, and apparently some- 

 what interfered with them. After sailing around a little while, the 

 Pelican turns suddenly and darts obliquely into the water, appearing 

 to use its pouch as a scoop. It does not dive deep, but reappears on 

 the surface almost immediately. 



" The position of this bird when standing on the rocks sometimes 

 seemed quite ludicrous, the neck being stretched upright as far as pos- 

 sible, and the bill flexed vertically downwards. The neck and legs are 

 not extended during flight, which somewhat reminded me of that of the 

 Canada Goose, and the movement of the wings is in most respects 

 similar, except the sailing at short intervals. All the Pelicans ob- 

 served after passing a short distance up the Sacramento, appeared to 

 be the Brown species, and I was rather surprised to see it abundant in 

 a latitude so far north. 



" A pet Pelican spoken of by one of our party as having been kept 

 on board of an American vessel, was represented as having been ex- 

 ceedingly voracious and little less choice in its food than an Ostrich. 

 It would swallow pieces of iron, stones, and other hard substances, and 

 even though carefully watched, would sometimes steal the pork of a 

 mess, and swallow the entire piece at once." 



3. Pelecanus roseus, Omelin. — The East India Pelican. 



Pehcanus roseus, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 570 (1788). 



Pelecanus manilensis et phillppensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 571 (1788). 



Pelecanus javanicus, HoRSF. Trans. Linn. Soc. London, XIII, p. 197 (1822). 



Buflf. PI. Enl. 965. 



90 



