AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
63 
in different countries, and hence not subject to the same 
physical circumstances. This, it is well known, will not 
only induce variations in colour, and size, but even in the 
form and development of certain parts. At the same time 
that we allow this, we agree with Mr. Swainson, that too 
much latitude has been given to the meaning of the word 
variety, so that in its general acceptation, its definition be- 
comes impossible; its true meaning is, an animal or other 
production of nature, possessing one or more characters 
which are changeable and uncertain, and which, conse- 
quently, will not serve as indications by which it may in- 
fallibly be distinguished from all others. 
For the following account of the Rough billed Pelican, 
we are indebted to Mr. T. Peale, whose well earned repu- 
tation in natural history, requires no eulogy from us. 
This bird is entirely white, with the exception of the 
primaries and nine first secondaries, which are black, as are 
likewise the next six, except on their external edge; crest, 
plumes of the breast and lesser wing coverts, with a faint 
tinge of yellow. Plumes of the crest silky, and about four 
inches in length; those of the neck very soft and pointed. 
Tertials, coverts, and feathers of the breast and belly, long 
and silky. Bill flesh coloured; pouch, orbits, legs and feet, 
orange yellow; a blackish spot on the pouch near the extre- 
mity of the bill, which assumes the appearance of inter- 
rupted lines when this part is distended. Tail rounded, 
consisting of twenty-two feathers, (in a specimen from the 
Missouri, there were twenty-four). All the specimens we 
have seen were destitute of the black spot on the bill, men- 
tioned by Latham. Spurious wings, black; first and fifth 
primaries equal, three intermediate feathers also equal, but 
longer than the first and fifth; shafts white, those of the 
secondaries black. Iris, dark brown. The dimensions of 
a fine specimen were, length, five feet two and a half inches; 
extent, seven feet nine and three quarter inches; bill, fif- 
teen and a quarter inches; tarsus, four and a quarter; height 
of rugosity on bill, two inches; weight, thirty pounds. 
To such of our readers as have visited the estuaries of 
the Florida coast, the demure and awkward attitude of this 
bird must be perfectly familiar. In that portion of our 
country, this species occurs in large flocks, but they are 
also often to be seen along the shores of the Mississippi and 
Missouri, imparting a peculiar character to the otherwise 
solitary scene, their solemn and quiet demeanor being in 
strict unison with the stillness of the uninhabited plains 
which surround them. They do not, however, remain 
throughout the whole year on our western waters, migra- 
ting to the south during the autumn months, and returning 
early in the spring. Specimens have been killed at Council 
Bluffs as early as the 8th of April, some of which were of 
great size, the pouch of onq obtained by Mr, Peale, being 
capable of containing upwards of four gallons of water, 
although when empty, such was its elasticity, that it hung 
but a few inches below the bill. 
The individual from which our drawing was made, was 
shot, with its companion, a few miles below Philadelphia, 
and presented to the Museum by Mr. P. Brandt. These 
birds very seldom occur so far north on the Atlantic coast, 
the only other instance with which we are acquainted, were 
a pair which were killed in New York harbour a few years 
since. Latham, however, mentions that they are found in 
Hudson’s bay. On the western rivers they may be seen as 
high as the 42d degree. 
They build in societies, and seldom are found except in 
flocks. On the mangrove islands in Musquito river, East 
Florida, both the present species and the brown ( P.fuscus .) 
breed in vast numbers, but always select separate islands. 
Mr. Peale visited some of these spots during the winter, and 
although not the breeding season, found that they still col- 
lected in great numbers every night, for the purpose of 
-roosting, apparently arriving from great distances and 
evincing strong attachment to the place of their birth. The 
mangroves were covered with the remains of old nests; 
these were principally composed of sticks, and several 
nests were to be seen in the same tree, generally at about 
eight to ten feet from the ground. We have no precise 
information as to the eggs, but believe that they are two in 
number, and of a white colour. In the months of June and 
July, the inhabitants of the surrounding country collect 
great numbers of the young birds, before the)'* are able to 
fly, for the sake of the oil they afford; this is said to burn 
freely, and to furnish a clear light. When flocks of these 
birds are disturbed they rise in much confusion, but soon 
form in regular order, usually flying in long lines, though 
sometimes in a triangle like geese, with their long bills rest- 
ing on their breasts, in the manner represented in our plate. 
C. L. Bonaparte has confounded this bird with the fus- 
cus, from which, however, it appears to be very distinct, 
both in appearance and habits. The adult bird of the brown 
Pelican is blackish-ash, back and wings hoary; crown yel- 
lowish; neck deep chesnut, margined on each side with 
white. Middle nail serrated internally. In the species 
under consideration, the whole plumage is white, with 
the exceptions we have already noti'ced. The nail of the 
middle toe is smooth. In fact we' should be more inclined 
to consider it as a variety of’ the onocrotalus than of the 
fuscus. But it differs from both these in its habits. The 
latter soar over the water ana take their prey by plunging, 
whilst the Rough billed obtains its food in swimming, scoop- 
ing up mullets and other fish as with a net; it also occurs 
along rivers far in the interior, the other species being 
almost exclusively confined to the coast. 
