THE PELICAN. 243 



the owner could both touch and handle them, and they took fish out of his 

 hand. They always put the fish in the bag, to swallow it at their leisure. 



Sometimes the pelican is made to use its pouch for the service of man. 

 The white pelican (for there is a brown species) lives in North America, and 

 the Indians sometimes tame and educate it. They carry its education to such 

 a state of perfection that it goes out in the morning at the word of command, 

 and comes back at night with its bag quite full. Its master makes it give up 

 the plunder, and then allows it to keep part for itself. 



Along the great rivers of North America the pelicans are often seen 

 iby hundreds. 



They will range themselves along a sand-bar, pluming their feathers, and 

 ■enjoying their liberty. If one gapes, they all gape from sympathy, and open 

 their long bills in succession in a most laughable manner. 



By-and-by their toilette is complete, and their feathers are trimmed and 

 •dressed. By this time the setting sun is tinging the tall tops of the forest 

 trees, and the birds begin to feel hungry. They rise in a clumsy way on 

 their legs, and waddle towards the water. 



Then their whole appearance changes. They are no longer clumsy and 

 awkward, but float lightly along, propelling themselves onward with their 

 paddle-like feet. 



The pelican in its native haunts is a beautiful bird. Its eyes sparkle like 

 ■diamonds, and the orange red of its legs and feet, and also of the bill and 

 pouch, contrast with its white plumage. Its flesh is quite unfit for food. 



THE CORMORANT. 



When the Chinaman wants a supply of fish to sell in the market, he sets out 

 in his little boat, or junk, as it is called, down the river. 



He is not going to catch the fish with a line and a hook, but in a much 

 quicker way. And he is not going to catch them at all himself. Some old 

 friends of his will fish for him. 



His friends are a number of birds called cormorants, a name that has 

 a sound as of some one that is very greedy. And the cormorant is greedy 

 of fish, and will eat as much as it can swallow. 

 p 2 



