368 
Messrs. A. and E. Newton’s Observations 
hoping they might come round; but they did not do so, nor 
could I discover whither they had gone. I do not think I ever 
saw the species again.”—A. N. 
We believe that several other species of Anatidce occur from 
time to time, but especially in winter, in the island. From the 
descriptions which have been given us, we suppose the Dusky 
Duck ( Anas obscura, Gmel.) and the American Wigeon ( Mareca 
americana } Steph.) to be among the number ; and in the spring 
of 1857, a flock of Wild Geese, probably the common Canadian 
species (. Bernicla canadensis , Boie), were said to have been seen; 
we are, however, unable to indicate more -particularly which 
members of the family come under the Creole designations of 
“ Teal,” “ Wigeon,” “ Diver,” &c. 
t 54. Brown Pelican. Pelicanus fuscus , L.; Aud. pis. 423 
& 424. 
Probably the first birds to meet the eye of a stranger arriving 
at St. Croix would be a small flock of Pelicans. No shooting 
being permitted by the police in the roadstead of Erederiksted or 
harbour of Christiansted, they are there very tame, and take no 
heed whatever of what is going on, often flying within a few yards 
of the landing-stages or boats, utterly regardless of the human 
beings with whom they may or may not be crowded. In other 
places they are much more wary, and, unless one is concealed, 
admit of no near approach. A few may almost always be seen 
in a ride along the southern and western shores of the island, 
either resting lazily on a stump in the water, or with a degree 
of clumsy activity diving for fish, their occupation being to all 
appearance affected by the state of their appetite. When en¬ 
gaged in taking prey, they fly over the shallows which form their 
hunting-ground until they find a promising spot; there they 
alight and begin diving incessantly, and they seem always to 
rise to the surface, with their heads in a direction contrary 
to that in which they had them when they went under. They 
are said to breed on the island ; but we were unable to ascertain 
that they did so, though they are probably resident all the year 
round ; and we believe they do breed at Tortola or on some rocks 
adjacent to that island. 
