550 PALMIPEDES. 



morning and evening tliey are seen in small flocks 

 of from six to fourteen individuals, enfyao-ed in fish- 

 ing until their pouch is sufficiently fllled. They 

 then retire to some secluded retreat among the 

 rocks and shoals, or doze on the surface of the water, 

 while leisurely digesting their freshly-caught meal. 



" It is a pleasant sight/^ says Mr. Gosse, " to see 

 a flock of Pelicans Ashing. A dozen or more are 

 flying on heavy flagging wings, over the sea, the 

 long neck doubled on the back, so that the beak 

 seems to protrude from the breast. Suddenly a 

 little ruffling of the water arrests their attention, 

 and with wings half-closed down each plunges, with 

 a resounding splash, and in an instant emerges to 

 the surface with a fish. The beak is held aloft, a 

 snap or two is made, the huge pouch is seen for a 

 moment distended, then collapses as before, and 

 heavily the bird rises to wing', and again beats over 

 the surf with his fellows. It is worthy of observa- 

 tion that the Pelican invariably performs a summer- 

 sault under the water ; for, descending as he does, 

 diagonally, not j^ei'pendicularly, the head emerges 

 looking in the opposite direction to that in which 

 it was looking before. When the morning 'appetite 

 is sated, they sit calmly on the heaving surface, look- 

 ing much like a miniature fleet. Towards evening 

 they fly in long ranks to the trees near the shore. ^^ 



Often the Pelicans skim over the surface of the sea 

 or balance themselves in the air at a moderate eleva- 

 tion, and then pounce headlong on their prey. It 

 has been remarked that they occasionally congregate 

 in large flocks, and encircling a piece of water, beat 

 the surface with their wings, until the afii-ighted fish 

 are driven into a small space, and deprived of all 

 means of escape. Their flight is generally low and 

 heavy, but they are capable of rising to a consider- 

 able height. They deposit their eggs on rocks, 

 sometimes in an excavation near the water, or on 

 the banks of a cascade, generally choosing places 

 which are difficult of access. 



