Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-20

l1zE ELZlAW 4
 Probably few. visitors to the zoos of our larger cities who see the peli- cans solemnly sitting round their small, round, concrete pond, which has to do duty for their native lagoon, know that these great birds. so unique in many ways, still live in wild state and nest within the confines of Flu rope. Their large size, heavy. un- wieldy-looking bodies, enormous beaks with the curious pouch. and general aspect, give the idea of remote parts of the earth. Vast African lakes, sur rounded by deserts. or the steamy, fever-laden banks of tropical rivers, where the alligators crawl among the mangroves are the haunts one natur. ally associates with the pelican. One thinks of 1t instinctively as the "peli- can of the wilderness" and, as such. it is with dificulty thought of as an in habitant of Europe in this twentieth century. Their European haunts are. however. as may be supposed, much of the beaten track. and the ornithol. ogist desirous of making their acquain- tance must be prepared for rough trav- elling and rough living. and also for g certain element of risk.
 R. B. Lodge, an English naturalist. tells of an expedition which he made to the pelican country"
 From information received. he says. had hoped to find pelicans in Mon tenegro; but though searched care fully the lake given me as locality. nothing was seen of them. Purple herons were beginning to nest. and marsh-harriers were very abundant. be. sides several species of duck. One pigmy cormorant was passed. but no pelicans, nor did 1t seem 3 suitable place for them. Here. as l was wad ing in deep water Ad search of marsh.harrier's nest. caught alive in my hand male little bittern as Il crouched on the surface of the water Some days later I saw for the first time Pelicanus crispus in wild state Three of the great birds flew past, and later saw several fishing and rest ing on the sand. We could not. how ever, approach them near enough fol . photograph. even with the telephott lens.
 Travelling to a point farther soutl pelicans were found plentiful enough; in fact, we could see them with good glass from the windows of m, hosts house. There were general! dozen or SO fishing or resting ol the small islets in the lagoon. Blu they were very difficult to approach and as soon as I saw them began t | doubt whether any of them bred there They were nearly ali of them imma ture birds; and though we put in fortnight's real hard work wading al over the lagoon, and visiting all thu Alands and reed-beds. we failed t lind any trace of nesting-place. Gu doubts were confirmed by the loca fishermen who declared that they hal not nested there for many years. w 1 tried lying in wait for them, drivin them, stalking them and setting tn electric camera for them. leaving out all night in the hope of catchin them in the early morning. But al our efforts were of no avail.
 1 At this point the map was studie
 in the hope of finding some likely k cal.ty. and finally, we determined t rsie to some distant lakes and lagoonI taking . few necessaries on a paci horse, enough to last us three or fou days. After sleeping two nights. on at the house of Bey. who regaled U
 with q lamb roasted whole. and th
 interminable courses of Turkish dii
 ner, and sent us on our way wit
 two of his armed retainers as guide
 and guards. and another at the houz
 of . well-todo peasant, we finally, O the third morning. after riding throug
 most difficult country. found the pei
 cans nestins-place- As we sat. eac l ID tue p0ttUu ol v Iuut do8 8Ses ~e<A~'
 propelled by . Turkish fisherman. .
 could see in the distance . line
 white objects on the horizon Thes they told us, were the pelicans c
 their nests. Welcome sight Whe
 we could begin 10 make them o'
 through our glasses. they appeared be in front of some tamarisk bushs
 on the shore But afterwards we four that instead of being on the farth' shore. as ve had supposed. they vel
 on two small. low. sandy isiets. bal of any vegetation more than one fo'
 high. After taking few photograph with the limited number of plat , brought with us. and securing sever { clutches of eggs. we hurried back vi' l the intention of coming again with
 better supply of photographic nece