73 
Field, Marks. Small size, colour unrelieved by light face patch or yellow bill or gular 
pouch. The two crests and white flank spots when present. 
Nesting. On cliff, sea-wall ledges, and similar situations. 
Distribution. Coasts of north Pacific, breeding south to California. Breeding 
colonies have been noted at the south end of Vancouver island and on Queen Charlotte 
islands. 
This is the most beautiful of the American Cormorants, and in summer 
at least the commonest one on our western coast. Unfortunately few of 
the Cormorants keep their plumage ornaments for any length of time and 
their greatest beauty is seldom seen. 
SUBSPECIES. The American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list divides the Pelagic 
Cormorant into three subspecies: Phalacrocorax pelagicus pelagicus restricted to the 
Asiatic shores; P. p. robustus , the Violet-green Cormorant, occupying the Alaskan coast 
and south to Washington; and P. p. resplendens, Baird’s Cormorant, from Washington 
southward. The differences are mostly of size, the middle one, robustus, being assumed the 
largest and the other two of about equal size. Recent authors, however, do not recognize 
robustus as a separate subspecies. Our British Columbia birds have hitherto been referred 
to robustus , but the measurements of the series in the Victoria Memorial Museum, even 
those from Queen Charlotte islands, place them unmistakably with resplendens. There 
is certainly much to be learned from the study of specimens of these birds and the delimita- 
tion of the races of this species is uncertain. 
FAMILY — PELICANIDAE. THE PELICANS 
Among the very largest of American birds, with very long, flattened 
bill, and enormous throat patch. 
In Canada, only two species need be considered, both strongly charac- 
terized. One is very common on the prairies ; the other is met with only 
on the coast and there but rarely. 
125. White Pelican. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. L, about 64. Pure white, with 
black wings, long flattened bill (12 inches or over), and an enormous yellow gular pouch 
capable of holding several quarts (Figure 111). On the top 
and midway the length of the bill there is in some cases an 
extraordinary horny plate irregular in outline, but erect like 
a rifle Bight and up to an inch and a half in height. This 
ornament is deciduous and is shed annually. It is common 
to both sexes, and not the particular property of the male as 
is generally stated. Juveniles have more or less clouding of 
brown on nape and hind head. 
Distinctions. The above are absolutely distinctive. 
Field Marks. A great white bird with black wings and 
large yellow throat pouch that can be seen almost as far as 
the bird itself. The only other white birds that approximate 
to the Pelican in size are the Swans and the Whooping Crane. 
The Swans have all white wings, and the Crane very long 
legs, and in flight carry legs and neck outstretched, instead of 
hunching the head up on the shoulders as do the Pelicans. 
Nesting. On the ground, usually on bare or stony islands in the larger lakes. 
Distribution. Most of temperate North America, breeding in Canada, across the 
prairies and north to near Great Slave lake. Rare east of the Prairie Provinces or in 
Biitish Columbia. 
Figure 111 
White Pelican; scale, 
about T V- 
The ponderously serious flight of these great white birds with their 
slow beat, beat, beat, and then a long dignified sail, is a common sight near 
the larger prairie waters, as they wing back and forth between the lakes 
and feeding grounds. They fly in long, evenly-spaced lines, abreast, in 
tandem, or in V's. Pelicans are communists, individualism is unknown 
among them. The way one faces, they all face; as one poses, they all pose. 
Standing on a bare sandbar, they line up in military formation and digest 
