WHERE THE PELICAN BUILDS 



147 



barked, as if in defiance. An hour after this incident 

 we heard a faint splash of oars, and presently a boat 

 shot into view. From the shore we had watched a 

 fleet of white birds, each with huge beak slanting to 

 its breast, cruising near Pelican Island, and the ar- 

 rival of the boat was welcome. 



PELICANS' HEADLESS BODIES, PELICAN ISLAND. 



The boatman greeted us cheerily, and offered his 

 services for the rest of the day. His craft was small 

 and leaky, and with three persons aboard sunk until 

 the combing was only a few inches above the water. 

 We had to "trim," and Jim rowed so carefully that 

 progress was slow. I baled every few minutes, for 

 water flowed in steadily, and our feet were awash all 

 the time. But we reached the island safely. The 

 Pelicans had not awaited our advent; when the boat 

 was a hundred yards away they rose with a clamour 

 of beating wings, and in V-shaped formation flew to- 

 wards the point. There were hundreds of nests on 



