292 



DUCKS, GEESE, SWANS, AND PELICANS. 



that, in one day's fishing, it devours as much fish as would satisfy 

 six men. The Egyptians have nicknamed it the " River Camel," 

 because it can imbibe at once more than twenty pints of water. 

 Certainly it only makes two meals a day ; but, oh ! what meals 

 they are ! 



Pelicans often travel in considerable flocks, visiting the mouths 

 of rivers or favourite retreats on the sea- coast. When they 

 have made choice of a suitable place, they arrange themselves 

 in a wide circle, and begin to beat the water with extended wing. 



Fig. 105. The Crested Pelican (P. onocrotalus, var. Orientalis, Linn.). 



so as to drive the fish before them, gradually diminishing the circle 

 as they approach the shore or some inlet on the coast. In this 

 manner they get all the fish together into a small space, when the 

 common feast begins. After gorging themselves they retire to 

 the shore, where the processes of digestion follow. Some rest 

 with the neck over the back; others busily dress and smooth 

 their plumage, waiting patiently until returning appetite invites 

 all to fresh exertions. When thus quiescent, occasionally one of 

 these birds empties his well-lined pouch, and spreads in front of 

 him all the fish that it contains, in order to feed upon them at 

 leisure. 



