THE WHITE, OR GKEAT PELICAN. 



themi dart down with astonishing swiftness, seize it with unerring cer 

 tainty, and store it in their pouch. Ilaving done this, they rise again, 

 and continue the same actions till they have procured a competent 

 stock. 



Whence it was that the ancients attributed to this stupid bird the 

 admirable qualities and parental affections for which it was celebrated 

 amongst them, I am unable to imagine; unless, struck with its extra- 

 ordinary figure, they were desirous of supplying it with propensities 

 eciually extraordinary. For, in truth, the Pelican is one of the most 

 neavy, sluggish, and voracious, of all the feathered tribes ; and is but 

 ill-tilted to take those vast flights, or to make those cautious pro- 

 visions, which have been mentioned. 



It is, however, by no means destitute of natural affection, either 



towards its young-ones, or 

 towards others of its own 

 species. Clavigero, in his 

 History of Mexico, says, that 

 sometimes the Americans, in 

 order to procure, without 

 trouble, a supply of lish, 

 cruelly break the wing of a 

 live Pelican, and, after tying 

 tlie bird to a tree, conceal 

 tliemselves near the place. 

 The screams of the miserable 

 bird attract other Pelicans to 

 the place, which, he assures 

 us, eject a portion of the pro- 

 visions from their pouches, 

 for their imprisoned compa- 

 nion. As soon as the men 

 \^^ observe this, they rush to the 

 ^§ spot, and, after leaving a 

 small quantity for the bird, 

 carry off the remainder. 



The female feeds her young- 

 ones with tish macerated for 

 some time in her bag. Labat 

 informs us, that he caught 

 two Pelicans, when very young, and tied them by the leg to a post 

 Ftuck into the ground ; and he had the pleasure of seeing one of the 

 old ones come for several days to feed them, remaining with them 

 the greatest part of the day, and passing the night on the branch of 

 a tree that hung over them. By this means they all three became so 

 familiar as to suffer themselves to be handled ; and the young-onea 

 always took the fish that he offered to them, storing it first in their 

 bag; and then swallowing it at leisure. 



The Pelican has often been rendered domestic ; and this writer 

 assures us, that he saw one among the Americans so well trained, 

 that it would at command, go oft' in the morning, and return before 



ma HAWK iioBBiNa a peucan. 



