THE EMPIKK OF THE AIR. 



433 



Teal and Duck ti/pe. — These birds are the represeutatives of rapidity 

 in flight. They flap to excess, supplied with carbon as they are by the 

 heavy layer of oily fat which covers their pectoral nniscles. This is the 

 tj'pe to imitate for aviation with motors. These birds attord practical 

 lessons as to methods of getting nnder way and of alighting, botli oi" 

 them points of capital importance. 



These birds need, like the scolopax, to traverse o\er long distances, 

 from one lake to the next, and as tlicy ar«^ weaponless speed is their 

 sole safeguard. It is enough for their safety, for the.\' are never at- 

 tacked in the air. 



The eagle, their chief enemy, abandons pursuit as soon as they are 

 well under way. 



The Friicaii. — Here is a wag and a pliilosopher, a swift sybarite, 

 mounted on two great wings. 



Where is his nest ? Whence does he come to us .' 1 confess 1 haidly 

 know. 1 merely am aware that we see a good <leal of him in l]gy]»t. 

 Great flocks of tlu'se birds are found on the inundated lands, upon the 

 the Mareotis and the ]\Ianzalch lakes. There arc even s(»me in tlie city, 

 domesticated. I bought one for a dollar in the Mouski. Every year 

 they aie peddled in Cairo during November, December, and flanuary. 



Whal a droll crcatnrel 1 had two ot tlu'se tor my personal friends. 

 They were more Indicious than will l)e credited. IJut I mnst abstain, 

 foi' if I were to begin telling of waggish tricks of pelicans. 1 jiever 

 would be done. Let humorists treat themselves to one, and have no 

 fear of his bill, which is (piite inoflensive, and they will have their 

 money's w(nth of amusement. Hut. droi»i)ing the humoristic feature 

 of this cimrming animal, let us attend to his flight. 



The pelican possesses a i)eculiarity in his stru<*turc; it is an cxces- 



siv<- length of arm and fore arm. lie is without a tail. His centei- of 



oscillation. OI- the limits within which he can shift his center of gravity 



without compromising his <'(|uipoise, lies within the branciics of that 



II. Mis. Ill us 



