160 THE PELICAN. 



a post, and the parent bird has been observed for sev^nU 

 days to come and feed them; remaining with them the 

 greatest part of the day, and spending the night on the 

 oranch of a tree that hung over them. By these means 

 they became so familiar that they suffered themselves to be 

 handled ; and they very readily accepted whatever fish was 

 given to them. These they always put first into their pouch, 

 and then swallowed them at leisure. 



Notwithstanding their natural indolence and stupidity, 

 these birds appear to be susceptible of instruction in a domestic 

 state. Some of them have been known to go off at the word 

 of command, and return to their owners with their pouches 

 distended with plunder. 



It is said that, when the Pelican and the cormorant fish 

 in company, they adopt a singular mode of catching their 

 prey. They form a large circle, at some distance from the 

 land, and, while the Pelicans flap their wings above, the 

 cormorants dive beneath. The fish are thus driven before 

 the birds, who lessen the circle as they approach the land, 

 and thus enclose their finny spoil within a narrow space, sf 

 i» to have no difficulty in seizing on a sufficient number. 



