4G8 
BROWN PELICAN. 
and under wing and tail coverts, centrally streaked with white. Patch on breast, pale straw color. Iris, white, bill, hoary 
with edges of lower mandible and tip of upper, red. Naked space about head, and gular sac, greenish-brown. Feet, slaty- 
blue. Youny. Similar, but lacks the brown on neck, and the colors throughout aro much paler. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Known by the comparatively small size and dark colors. In winter the brown of the neck is replaced by white and the 
iris is brown. Distributed as a constant resident in Florida. Rare as far north as Massachusetts. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from Florida. Length, 4R-25; stretch, 79'25; wing, 20'25; tail, 6'13; bill, 12 00; 
tarsus, 1'50. Longest specimen, 54*00; greatest extent of wing, 85‘00; longest wing, 2100; tail, 7 00; hill, 12'50; tarsus, 
3 00. Shortest specimen, 44-50; smallest extent of wing, 73"50; shortest wing, 19'50; tail, 5"25; bill, 11 '50; tarsus, 2'<I0. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGOS. 
Nests , placed on the ground or in trees, composed of sticks, lined with weeds, grass, etc. Eyys, two in number, oval 
form, and white in color, covered with a white calcareous deposit. Dimensions from l’80x2'80 to 215 x310. 
HABITS. 
The Brown Pelicans are exceedingly abundant in Florida, not only on the coast, but 
among the Keys and in the salt water lagoons. Their method of fishing is quite different 
from that practiced by the preceding species, for they fly along some ten feet ovef the wa¬ 
ter, then when they preceive a school of fish, will drop awkwardly among them, seizing as 
many as they can, after which the water is forced from the pouch and the prey swallowed. 
If the fishes which they are catching, chance to be small, some will escape, and the Laugh¬ 
ing Gulls, taking advantage of this fact, will alight with half-spread wings, on the huge 
heads of the Pelicans, in order to catch the escaping prey. The good-natured Pelicans ap¬ 
pear to take this act as a matter of course, for I never saw one attempt to attack a Gull 
when it was so engaged. Unlike the White Pelicans, the Brown do not soar after feed¬ 
ing but sit quietly on the sand bars or perch on the mangroves until the meal is digested, 
and when thus resting, the bill is held quite perpendicularly as is the custom with other 
Pelicans. When flying, these large birds move in ranks by alternate flapping and sailing, 
all the members of a flock acting in concert. 
When breeding, the Brown Pelicans select particular localities and will return to them 
year after year to nest, gathering for this purpose from miles around. Thus I know of 
but one breeding ground on the east coast of Florida, that is Pelican Island in Indian Riv¬ 
er, near the inlet, where thousands congregate, and one or two on the west coast in about 
the same latitude; but, singularly, those on the east side of the peninsula deposit their 
eggs early in March, at least a month sooner than those on the west. The bulky nests are 
placed on the ground or in trees, and the birds are so unsuspicious when sitting, that they 
may be easily captured. These breeding places are always in a filthy condition. 
FAMILY III. GRACULIDiE. THE CORMORANTS. 
Bill , shorter than head and hooked at tip. Gular sac , small. Sternum , considera¬ 
bly longer than wide. Coracoids , not as as long as sternum. Keel , projected well forward. 
The oesophagus is straight and somewhat dilated. Proventriculus, rather large, with 
the glands arranged in an irregular, zonular band. Stomach, quite large but not muscu¬ 
lar. Coeca, very small. Sternum, quite well arched, with the central posterior margin, 
indented, but having a wide, shallow scallop on either side. Keel occupies only about one 
half the length of sternum. Furcula, quite long, at first ascending perpendicularly, then 
bent backward to tip of keel. Tail, rather long, rounded, and stiffened. Head, crested. 
