AUSTRALIAN PELICAN. 
and motionless save for an occasional flap, they are a decidedly interesting 
sight.” 
Stone,* regarding the Birds of Lake Boga, Victoria, writes : “ Very 
common; I have seen these showy birds massed in scores, following a shoal 
of small fish, and levying a very heavy toll thereon.” 
Again, in the Emu, Vol. XIII., p. 83, 1913, Stone added : “ Bounding 
a bend in the swamp, we would come into view of a sand-spit on which would 
be perhaps over a hundred Pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus), “ Nynungourk,” 
sunning themselves after a successful fishing expedition. I have often seen 
hundreds of these birds together on a moonlight night, swimming after a shoal 
of fish. Their general habit at such times is to bunch together, shoulder to 
shoulder, and they make a great commotion, eating the fish and swimming 
at great speed. The Pelican’s power of vision is very great, and in passing 
from one sheet of water to another at any distance it reaches a great altitude, 
and soars on outspread wings in spirals before departing, and again previous 
to ahghting. My observations go to prove that these birds, in their natural 
state, feed principally upon small fish, though not disdaining a larger one if 
m the way. A wounded bird will sometimes disgorge a hatful of small fish. 
The Pelican swims very high in the water.” 
MacgiUivray, writing about North Queensland birds in the Emu, 
Vol. XIII., p. 149, 1914, stated : “ Noted in fair numbers throughout the 
Gulf country, many of the waterholes and lakes containing flocks of twenty 
or more. All these rivers abound with fish, so that they are always assured 
of a good supply of food. They were frequently seen on Channel Bock, in 
Torres Strait. A large flock was also noticed on the swamp between 
Cripple Creek and Georgetown, where the Native Companions were 
congregating.” 
Dr. J. C. Cleland states the stomachs of five specimens gave results as 
foUows : 
“1. Nearly two pints of prawns, with fish about two inches Ibng. 
2. Freshwater crayfish and a few shrimps ; small fish ; tapeworm 
in intestines. 
3. Freshwater crayfish. 
4. Freshwater crayfish. 
5. Freshwater crayfish and several small fish, one four and a half 
inches long. 
A large number of round worms about an inch and a half long in 
stomachs of all specimens.” 
* Emu, Vol. XII., p. 121, 1912. 
319 
