372 THE WORLD OF THE SEA. 
in the lagoons, or salt-water lakes which line its banks. Early in 
the morning, great numbers of the pelicans gather together for 
a fishing expedition. They arrange themselves in a horse-shoe 
form, looking towards the shore, and they place themselves at 
regular intervals from each other. As soon as the cordon is 
complete, they commence striking the water with their out- 
stretched wings, and thus frighten the fish shorewards. With 
neck outstretched, the pelicans gradually near the land. The 
WHITE PELICANS. 
(Pelecanus onocrotalus.) 
fish are thus hemmed in, and as soon as the space is suffi- 
ciently narrowed, then begins the feast. M. Nordmann, speaking 
of one of these fishing expeditions, says :—‘ Besides the forty- 
nine pelicans which made up the company on that occasion, 
there were assembled on the sea-weeds, shells, and other débris 
thrown up by the waves and collected on the beach, hundreds 
of gulls, jackdaws, and sea-swallows, ready to seize the fish 
as they were driven out of the water, and to devour the remains 
