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“The young pelicans * * * reminded me of boys as they gathered here and there in groups, chattering in gutteral tones.”’ 
THEAGITY “OF THE PRLIGANS 
By HERBERT K. JOB 
Author of ‘‘ Among the Water Fowl]’’ 
PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE AUTHOR 
WO of us left New York just before 
midnight on the 8th of last April, 
bound for Florida. Hardly a sign of 
real spring had yet appeared, and one of a 
long series of cold, easterly rain-storms was 
raging. The next afternoon, in Virginia and 
‘North Carolina, we gazed upon blossoming 
peach trees and bursting buds. One night 
more, and, in early morning, at Savannah, 
nature was in the full glory of summer’s leaf 
and flower. By middle afternoon, half way 
down the east coast of Florida, on the bank of 
breezy Indian River, the journey ended. 
Easterly storms were forgotten, as for three 
weeks—one day excepted—the sun shone 
brightly, with a daily warmth of 80 to 85 de- 
grees, tempered by the fresh breeze that 
arose regularly about nine o'clock in the 
morning. 
On the morning of the 16th we were start- 
ing ina small sail-boat for Pelican Island, 
twelve miles farther down the Indian River 
scudding along, rejoicing in the balmy airand 
the beautiful tropical surroundings. Shiny. 
silvery mullets were leaping high out of the 
water in all directions, falling back with re- 
sounding splash, at times almost into the 
boat; flocks of bluebills rose from before us 
every few minutes; eagles and fish hawks 
were wheeling about, ready to descend upon 
unwary fish. By ten o’clock we began to see 
lines of great pelicans, with slow, measured 
wing beats, flymg down stream past us, and 
before eleven the guide pointed out Pelican 
Island. 
No tremendous cliffs were there, as at Bird 
Rock. Indeed, it was hard to distinguish 
this small, low island from the adjacent 
shore, half a mile away, with its jungle of 
palms and mangroves, until we had come 
quite close. Then we could see many beating 
wings, and, with our field-glasses, a great 
crowd of birds, the brown pelicans upon 
their nests. With eager anticipation, we made 
ready our battery of cameras for the blood- 
less fray, casting anxious glances at the heavy, 
A 
