PELECANID.^;. 551 



Tlie typical species_, — 



The White Pelican (Pelecanus Onocrotalus), is of about 

 the size of a Swan; its ijliimage is white or slightly flesh- 

 coloured, with the hook at the end of its beak of a cherry- 

 red. These birds are common throughout the warmer 

 regions of the Old World, and equally, or perhajDS more, 

 numerous on the American continent. They inhabit 

 marshy places, and live upon fish. Their habits are gra- 

 ])hicalJy described in the following sketch : — 



" Ranged along the margins of the sand-bar,'' says 

 Audubon, " in broken array, stand a hundred heavy- 

 bodied Pelicans pluming themselves and awaiting the 

 return of hunger, fehoukl one chance to gape, all, as if 

 by sympathy, in succession open their long and broad 

 mandibles, yawning lazily and ludicrously. But when 

 the red beams of the setting sun tinge the tall tops of the 

 forest trees, the birds rise clumsily on their short legs and 

 heavily waddle to the water, and plunge into the stream. 

 Lightly they float as they marshal themselves and extend 

 their line ; and now their broad paddle-like feet propel 

 them onwards. In yonder nook the small fry are dancing 

 on the quiet water. Thousands are there, and the very 

 manner of their mirth, causing the waters to sparkle, 

 invites their foes to advance. And now the Pelicans at 

 once spread out their broad wings, press closely forward, 

 with powerful strokes of their feet, drive the little fishes 

 towards the shallow shore, and then, with their enormous 

 pouches spread like so many bag-nets, scooj) them out and 

 devour them. These birds are altogether diurnal ; when 

 gorged, they retire to the sliores of small islands in bays 

 and rivers, or sit on logs floating in shallow water at a 

 good distance from the beach, — in all which situations 

 they lie or stand closely together. The White Pelicans 

 appear almost inactive during the greater part of the day, 

 fishing only after sunrise, and again an hour before sunset, 

 though at times the whole flock will mount high in the 

 air, and perform extended gyrations." 



The Brown Pelican procures its food on the wing, and in 

 a manner quite different to that of the White Pelican. *' A 

 flock will leave their resting-place, proceed over the waters 

 in search of fish, and when a shoal is perceived, separate 

 at once, when each from an elevation of from fifteen 



