pelican's nest. ^Q5 



edly saw sea-pelicans flying over the waves, and 

 plunging into them, as if they had been shot, 

 to catch small fish; and it generally happened, 

 that before the pelican drew his head out of the 

 water, a small sea-gull perched upon its back, and 

 as soon as the fish appeared in sight, snatched it 

 out of the pelican's mouth, and flew away with the 

 spoil.* 



The care of the pelican for the preservation of 

 her eggs is remarkable. They construct their nests 

 of rushes, and line the interior with moss, or any 

 soft herb. These nests are found on the small is- 

 lets of rivers, and places where moss is in plenty. 

 They lay two white eggs, about the size of those of 

 the swan, and employ the same time in hatching. 

 If disturbed while sitting, they hide their eggs in 

 the water, and take them out afterwards with their 

 bill, when they believe the danger removed. They 

 live altogether on fish, and consume a prodigious 

 quantity, t 



Dr. Darwin confirms the accounts, already related, 

 of one sea-fowl taking fish from another, by stating, 

 from a traveller named Osbeck, that the man-of-war 

 bird, a species of pelican that is not formed to catch 



* Sir Henry Martin, Bart, favoured me with this fact, which 

 he saw as above, 

 t Clark's Travels. 



