192 THE HUMAN SIDE OF BIRDS 



that this specimen of bird life in the swamp is a 

 most lovely sight." 



The noise and rush around these "fishermen 

 towns" is unbelievable except to one who has visited 

 one of the colonies. Every minute of the day num- 

 bers of fish are brought by the parent birds to their 

 ever-hungry young. And there is a constant 

 stench in the air caused from decaying fish and dead 

 birds lying about. 



Many birds have become so proficient in fishing 

 that they use strategy of a high order to obtain the 

 best results. Among these the pelicans rank high, 

 and their tactics show a marked degree of intelli- 

 gence if not of forethought. They "go fishing" 

 not singly but in large groups, and, forming a wide 

 semi-circle, drive a shoal of fishes before them to 

 the shore. At the opportune moment, when the 

 fishes are rounded up, they set to catching them with 

 the hilarity of South Sea Islanders. 



At times they wait on the banks for hours for the 

 fish to come in. Then the leader arises from his 

 sitting position and slowly wades into the water, 

 followed by his flock of faithful fishers. They swim 

 out far into the water, and suddenly, as if by some 

 unseen sign from him, they wheel around, begin 

 flopping their wings and rushing in line toward the 

 shore. Meanwhile their heads are lowered into the 



