CLASS AVES. 



189 



FIG. 235. 



whole body,* scooping up one or more with its pouch. 

 Then rising, it repeats the operation as often as the ca- 

 pacity of its pocket will permit. 



The Wliite Pelican f swims upon the surface, darting 

 down its long hill at the fish swimming near, till its 

 pouch is filled, when it retires to the sand-banks and 

 stands with its fellows in 

 long rows, while the con- 

 tents of the sac gradually 

 pass into the stomach, as 

 the process of digestion 

 goes on. 



The Cormorant J (k6r'~ 

 mo rant) pursues its prey 

 under the water, using its 

 wings to increase its speed. 

 It is fond of eels, but often has a hard battle to keep 

 one down, sometimes struggling for half, an hour, and 

 then taking it to a rock and thrashing it till disabled. 

 Its iris is bright green, and its plumage well oiled and 

 glossy. 



Griic'filus car' bo. Cormorant. (,V) 



ORDER LAMELL1ROSTRES (la mel II ros'trez). 



The Geese, Ducks, etc., have palmate feet and lamel- 

 late bills, with corresponding laciniate processes on the 

 sides of a fleshy tongue, ending in a horny tip. 



* This dash upon the water would be fatal to itself if it were not for a thick 

 layer of air-cells just beneath the skin, which breaks the force of the blow. 



t The White Pelican (P. e ryth ro rfiyrn' chvs) ranges from Florida to the north- 

 west coast. The Brown Pelican (P.fmcHs), from the coast of North Carolina around 

 to California. The former is remarkable for a horny excrescence on the top of 

 the upper mandible, found in both sexes while breeding. 



$ Cormorants are abundant in all parts of the world, and by the Chinese are 

 tamed and used for fishing, by placing a ring at the base of the neck to prevent 

 the bird from swallowing the game. 



