PELECANTJS PHILIPPINENSIS. 
1199 
Distribution . — This Pelican is found throughout the northern half of Ceylon both on brackish lagoons 
near the coast and large tanks situated in the interior ; its habitat extends down the east side of the island 
to the Hambantota district ; but westward of Tangalla I never saw it, not even on any of the large salt 
lakes such as Amblangoda, Bolgodde, Pantura, and Negombo. It is not met with on village tanks; and 
though immense flocks may occasionally be seen on the larger sheets of water (Kanthelai, Minery, Padawiya, 
Rugam, Ambard, Tissa Maha Rama, &c.), yet the Pelican is much more frequently seen on those estuaries, 
lagoons, and leways where the water is shallow and an abundance of fish is available for its sustenance. 
In India it is the most abundant species of Pelican, according to Jerdon ; but though it is so numerous 
and so widely spread it apparently retires principally eastward of Bengal to breed. Jerdon speaks of one 
Pelicanry in the Carnatic which he visited, and mentions the existence of many others. Mr. Hume, however, 
making more recent investigations, was unable to find the localities where any of these colonics existed, and 
is of opinion that Pelicans do not breed, as a rule, in the Peninsula. It must not be forgotten here that 
these birds, as well as other species (Herons, Ibises, &c.) which congregate together, occasionally remove the 
entire collection of nests to other parts so completely that not a vestige of them exists in the following 
season. In the Deccan the Grey Pelican is evidently rare ; Mr. Davidson mentions the occurrence of a single 
specimen at Pundharpur in September. From Chota Nagpur it is not recorded at all, and in the north- 
western region (Sindh, Guzerat, Cutcb, Kattiawar, and Rajpootana) it is only a cold-weather visitant, though 
notwithstanding very numerous in certain localities, where it is met with in enormous flocks. In Rajpootana, 
however, it is only a straggler. In Eastern Bengal it does not appear to be very numerous. I observe that 
Mr. Cripps only observed it in the month of April in Furreedpore ; in other portions of the province, however, 
it probably musters in greater force, for Blvtli in 1849 stated it to be commoner in Lower Bengal than 
P.javanicus. In Pegu it was observed at Thayetmyo by Captain Feilden; and in the Shwavgheen district 
it breeds in enormous numbers, as will be presently noticed. In the northern parts of Tenasserim it is 
numerous in the breeding-season, especially in the neighbourhood of Thatone and Ivhyketo. In the Malay 
peninsula it is recorded from Malacca by Salvadori ; and as an inhabitant of Borneo it is doubtfully noted 
by Salvadori. In the island of J ava it has also been noticed ; but I see no mention of its occurrence in 
Sumatra. It has been obtained in the Philippines at Luzon, and is doubtless found in other islands of the 
group. Returning to the mainland I find Swinhoe recording it from Amoy, and Pere David stating that it 
is very common on the great rivers of the empire, as well as on the coasts. He observed it at Pekin, and 
likewise met with it in the interior in Mongolia. It also occurs in Cochin China. 
Habits . — As above remarked, the favourite haunts of the Pelican in Ceylon are the brackish salt lagoons 
and “ leways ” lining the eastern coast of the island. Here they meet with an abundance of food, and levy 
tremendous contributions on the finny tribes ! It is their practice to form a line across a shallow piece of 
water, each bird a few feet apart from its neighbour, and then advance with their heads under water, seizing 
their prey right and left until the opposite side is reached and the whole lagoon is almost cleared of fish. It 
passes most of its time in the water, seldom approaching the banks, except to plume itself, and this it does 
mostly while floating lazily about. When thus situated it has rather a graceful appearance, its neck is curved 
backwards and its long bill carried down almost resting on the front of the neck ; and when two or three are 
together they generally swim in single file or one a little behind the others in “ echelon.” The Pelican rises 
with considerable exertion, flapping along the surface of the water and mounting gradually in the air until 
it has reached some height, when it proceeds along with very slow flaps of its immense wings, the head and 
neck drawn in, and, if there be a small flock, the whole proceeding in a line, one bird, as a leader, somewhat 
in advance of the rest. Long before they alight, having gained great momentum from their heavy weight 
and powerful wings, they descend with outstretched and motionless wings, literally sailing down to the water, 
when they drop their legs, and, carried forward by the impetus of their descent, plough up the surface for 
several yards. 
An enormous “mob” of Pelicans suddenly alarmed and put on the wing presents the finest spectacle 
that can be witnessed of bird-life. There is nothing to equal it in the world. I have seen very large flocks 
of the splendid Australian Pelican ( P . conspicillatus ) , but never saw anything to equal the vast assembly that 
I encountered one morning in July 1875 on Kanthelai tank. The weather had been very dry, and the whole of 
