BIRDS-PELECANIDAE-PELECANUS ERYTHRORHYNCHUS 
869 
Adult male .—The general plumage is pure white ; in the breeding season, with a roseate tinge ; the crest and elongated 
leathers on the breast pale yellow ; the alula, primary coverts and primaries black, the shafts of the latter white for the greater 
part of their length, being brownish black at the end ; the outer secondaries black, the inner more or less white, the shafts of 
all white underneath. Bill yellow, with the edges and unguis reddish ; upper mandible high at the base, but becoming gradu¬ 
ally flattened to the end ; on the ridge, just beyond the middle of the bill, is a thin elevated bony process about one inch high, 
and extending towards the end for three or four inches ; lower mandible broad at the base, with the cruta separated nearly to the 
point ; underneath the lower mandible, beginning at the junction of the cruta, and extending down the neck for about eight 
inches, is a large membranous sac or pouch, capable of great expansion ; it is of the same color as the bill; bare space around 
the eye bright yellow ; iris white ; legs and feet yellow ; claws yellowish brown. 
The female differs in not having the bony projection on the upper mandible. 
Total length, 70 inches ; wing, 24.50 ; bill, 13.50 ; tarsi, 4.75 ; tail, 7. 
Hab .—Throughout the United States, rare on the coasts of the Middle and Northern States. ur countries up to the 61st 
parallel. Specimens are in the collection from various sections, a number from the Pacific coast. There is no observable differ¬ 
ence between them and eastern specimens. 
This species breeds in the fur countries, generally selecting inaccessible places in the neigh¬ 
borhood of waterfalls. They also inhabit throughout the Rocky mountains and in California. 
In winter they are very abundant on our southern coast from Texas to Florida. 
They remain inactive on sand bars most of the day, procuring their food about sunrise and 
again just before sunset. They swim buoyantly, and while feeding are very active in their 
movements ; on such occasions they do not dive, but secure their food by thrusting the head 
under water, hut not keeping it below the surface for any length of time. Mr. Audubon states 
that their usual food consists of fish of rather a small size. 
In the breeding season the color of the bill, hare space around the eye, the pouch, the legs 
and feet are much heightened in color, becoming reddish orange. 
The peculiar bony process on the ridge of the upper mandible appears to be used for the pur¬ 
pose of defence when combatting with their rivals ; in some old individuals it is much abraded 
and worn, apparently caused by many and severe contests. 
Both Gray and Bonaparte adopt Latham’s name of “ trachyrhynchus” for this species, cer¬ 
tainly a very appropriate one; but Gmelin having previously called it “ erythrorhynchus,” 
according to the law of priority, his name should take precedence. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
When collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Orig. 
No. 
Collected by— 
Stretch 
of wings. 
Wing. 
Texas__ 
1853 
Mai. Emory__ 
A. Schott_ 
22. 00 
9947 
O 
Rio Grande, Tex ------ 
1853 
Q 
Cab.of G. N. Lawrence 
1022 
T. T. Bruzon_ 
23. 00 
4439 
A 
Dr E C. Bidwell ... 
2719 
S. F. Baird. 
70. 00 
24 50 
9951 
San. Diego, Cal_ 
Lt. Trowbridge_ 
A Cassidy__ 
25. 50 
4523 
San Francisco, Cal_ 
Jan. 10, 1856 
Dr. Suckley_ 
9949 
Pacific coast_ 
Jan., 1855 
Lt. Trowbridge_ 
T. A. Szabo_ 
23. 00 
9950 
O 
24.50 
9948 
Sacramento valley_ 
Lt. Williamson_ 
Dr. Heermann _ 
