103. Among the Pelicans.
The old birds, in the meantime, were resting on the water. They might have been unpleasant foes, but in their stately, dignified way they accepted the situation, and waited in silence for us to retire. Then they at once returned to their nests, and in a short time comparative quiet was restored on the island.
This is a sketch of life in the Pelicans’ metropolis as one sees it during a brief visit, and all the accounts of the island I have seen were based on just such an experience. Consequently, I shall relate here what was learned of the Pelicans and their home during four days passed with them.
104. Head and pouch of Brown Pelican. From a fresh specimen.
During no hour of the twenty-four did silence reign on Pelican Island; if I went on deck at midnight, the notes of some complaining or pugnacious young Pelicans, who in their sleep had come into too close quarters, were sure to be heard. But the Pelicans’ day began at early dawn, when I could distinguish the diagonal files of from two to a dozen birds solemnly and silently starting out for the fishing grounds. One might think that, like a boat’s crew, their strokes were controlled by a coxswain, as in perfect unison they all flapped their broad wings for about ten beats, and then spread them and sailed for as many seconds.
105. Same as No. 104, seen from above, to show extent to which sides of the lower bill are spread.
Generally they headed for the ocean, there to follow the line of the beach, sometimes high in the air, at others low over the curling surf, as their progress was aided or retarded by the wind. How far they went I can not say, but at a point ten miles north of Pelican Island many have been seen still winging their way to the northward, doubtless to some point where fish were abundant. Not once during the four days passed off Pelican Island did I see a Pelican fishing over the surrounding waters. It was not because they were lacking in fish, for they contained a plentiful supply of food; and I could explain the unexpected abstinence of the birds only on the supposition that the fish in the immediate vicinity of the nesting ground were left for the early efforts of the young birds before they were strong enough of wing to accompany their parents to distant fishing grounds.