it goes leisurely flying across a lake, the distance 
across the wings from tip to tip measures nearly 
nine feet. The pelican’s bill is fourteen inches 
long and beneath it there is a big pouch which 
it uses In catching fish. It is a sight for ducks 
and men to see a young pelican get its dinner! 
For an hour or more the great fat squab may 
have been lying in its tule nest, perhaps with an- 
other its own size, only raising its head occasion- 
ally to see if its mother were coming home or 
to lunge a vicious blow at its sleeping companion. 
But now the moment of intense interest had 
arrived for the mother had alighted near by. 
Slowly and with much dignity she waddled 
forward with a rolling stride. Although perhaps 
proud of her offsprings, she never uttered a word, 
but simply opened wide her bill and by her 
actions plainly said to her clamoring young ones, 
“Children, help yourselves.’ With all the eag- 
erness and energy of hungry youth they sprang 
forward and thrust their heads not only into 
her mouth, but as far down her throat as they 
could reach. 
Even the best-natured mother pelican does 
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