322 BIRDS. PALMIPEDES. 



black, with green reflections ; lower part of the neck, breast, belly, 

 abdomen, and coverts of the wings white, shaded with rose-yel- 

 low ; top of the back and scapulars next to the body deep black ; 

 wing speculum white, without transverse bands ; male with a 

 thick and short tufted crest. 26 to 28 inches long. Inhabits 

 Arctic Regions. B Shaw, xii. pi. 53. 



M. serrator, Lin. Red-breasted Merganser. Wing-spot white, cros- 

 sed by two black bars in the male, and by one in the female ; the 

 mature male with a long and filamentous crest ; head, tuft, and 

 upper part of the neck black, with green reflections ; a white 

 collar round the neck ; five or six large white spots, bordered with 

 black at the insertion of the wings ; belly white ; bill and iris red. 

 20 inches long. Northern Europe. B Do?i. Brit. Birds, ii. pi. 38. 



M. albelhis, Lin. Smew or White Nun. Crest pendant ; occiput 

 greenish-black; body white; back and tern pies green-black; wings 

 variegated with white, ash-coloured and black ; tail ash-coloured ; 

 flanks and thighs varied with ash-coloured zigzag stripes ; bill, 

 tarsi, and toes bluish ash-coloured. 15 to 16 inches long. In- 

 habits Europe. B Shaw, xii. pi. 52. 



Gen. 13. PELECANUS, Lin. 



Bill long, straight, broad, much depressed ; upper mandible 

 flattened, terminated by a nail, or very strong hook ; the lower 

 formed by two bony branches, which are depressed, flexible, 

 and united at the tip ; from these branches is suspended a 

 naked skin, in form of a pouch ; face and throat naked ; nos- 

 trils basal, in the form of a narrow longitudinal slit; legs short 

 and stout ; all the four toes connected by a web. 



The Pelicans are large birds, residing on rivers, lakes, or along the sea-coasts. 

 Though excellent swimmers, they also occasionally perch on trees. They are gre- 

 garious, very fond of fish, and when harassed or pursued readily reject the con- 

 tents of their stomach, like the gull tribe. They store up their prey in their gular 

 pouch, from which it is gradually transferred into the oesophagus, as the process of 

 digestion goes on. Though remarkable for their voracity, some of the species have 

 been trained to fish for mankind. In external appearance the two sexes very nearly 

 resemble each other. 



P. onocrotalus, Lin. White or Common Pelican. Plumage white, 



faintly tinged with flesh colour, except the quills, which are black ; 



upper part of the bill bluish, yellowish in the middle, and the 



margins reddish ; face naked ; pouch bright yellow. 5 to 6 feet 



long. Inhabits Eastern Europe Shaw, xiii. pi. 12. 



This bird has its specific name from its cry, which is loudest during flight, and 



which the ancients compared to the braying of an ass. During the summer months 



many of them take up their abode on the borders of the Black Sea and the shores 



of Greece. They are rare in France, and unknown in Great Britain. In fishing, 



they do not immediately swallow their prey, but fill their bag, and return to the 



shore to consume at leisure the fruits of their industry. The female feeds her young 



with fish from her pouch. 



P. Australia, Lath. Plumage white, with the upper part of the 

 back, quills, and tail black. 5 feet long. Inhabits New Hol- 

 land Shaw, xiii. 113. 



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