268. Pelecanus rufescens

268. Pelecanus rufescens.

THE RED-BACKED PELICAN.

Male 58". Legs yellowish. Bill yellowish, nail orange. Pouch flesh-colour, with transverse parallel yellow lines. Resembles P. philippensis, but the sides of upper mandible are without spots. Feathers of head and neck narrow and straight. Lower back and rump vinaceous. Tail of twenty feathers. Africa, south of 16° N. lat., Aden.

Also with general colour of under parts brown:—

P. fuscus. male 52". female 49". With back of neck velvety brown in breeding season and white in winter. Pouch olive-brown. Legs black. Bill grey, irregularly spotted carmine. Tail of twenty-two feathers. Orbital skin blue. From Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.

P. californicus. Resembles P. fuscus. Orbital skin brown. From Pacific coast of N.. America.

P. thagus. 60". Similar to P. fuscus. With straw-coloured occipital crest about 2 1/2" long. Under parts finely streaked with white. Base of bill and sides of forehead covered with warty carunculations. Bill yellow, sides and tip of both mandibles red. Pouch black, with blue stripes. Legs slate. Tail of twenty-two feathers. Pacific coast of S. America.

(ii.) Also with base of lower mandible feathered:—

P. erythrorhynchus. 60". Culmen ornamented with horny excrescences in breeding season. General plumage pure white. Naked skin round eye orange. Bill orange. Pouch pale yellow. Legs orange. Tail of twenty-four feathers. Temperate N. America, and south in winter to C. America.

Also with ring of feathers surrounding naked orbital space:—

P. conspicillatus. 60". General colour pure white. Quills and their coverts, scapulars, and rump black. Tail of twenty-two feathers black. Bill yellow. Pouch yellow. Legs yellowish. Australia and Tasmania, ranging north to New Guinea.