206 WHITE OB GREAT PELECAN. 



These birds, which are natives chiefly of tropical cli- 

 mates, are about the size of a swan. Their plumage is 

 nearly white. The back and wings are marked with black 

 lines. The quill-feathers are black; and the tail is 

 rounded, and of a lead -colour. The bill is pale yellow, 

 and the legs are flesh-coloured. 



46. PELECAN TRIBE. 



This is a voracious race of birds. They prey almost 

 wholly upon fish, which they are extremely expert in 

 catching. Several of the species are capable of being 

 tamed. 



White or Great Felecan. No bird has been more cele- 

 brated, even from the most remote periods of antiquity, 

 than the Pelecan ; and this from a fabulous notion of 

 unusual affection for its offspring. We are told that it 

 feeds its young ones upon its own blood ; and the heraldic 

 representation of the Pelecan is always in the act of 

 pecking her breast, and the young ones gaping for the 

 dropping blood. Mankind, struck with the singular ap- 

 pearance of the pouch in its under jaw, have attributed to 

 it qualities and appetites which are no less singular. That 

 it is not destitute of natural affection, is proved by the 

 circumstance of two young Pelecans having been tied by 

 the leg to a post, after which the parent birds continued 

 to bring them food for a great length of time. In their 

 pouch these birds convey to their nest fish in considerable 

 quantity, for the support of their offspring ; for this bag, 

 in some individuals, is so capacious, that, although when 

 empty, the two sides of the lower mandible are not more 

 than an inch asunder, yet, when extended, it will admit 

 a man's head with the greatest ease* Pelecans are said to 



