OCR Text |
Show UNCLE SAM'S FLORIDA AVIARY. Island in Indian River Used for Breeding Breed-ing Rare Brown Pelicans. Uncle Sam now has an aviary of his own where he Is breeding brown pelicans. The reservation was acquired acquir-ed by the government several weeks ago, but nothing was said about it, as visitors were not wanted. .Pelican island, on the east coast of Florida, in Indian river, has long been the home of the brown pelican and has been overrun by hunters. It is the only place on the east coast where the birds breed in colonies, and as the slaughter almost equaled the increase there was danger of the species becoming be-coming extinct. So Secretary Wilson secured an order making it a government govern-ment reservation, appointed a warden and gave him instructions that no one should be allowed to land on the island without an order from the secretary of agriculture. After the birds leave the island they are protected by the game laws of Florida. The birds for years have been sought "for their beautiful plumage plu-mage for female decoration. The brown pelican is found only on the coast of Florida Washington Times. |