( ITl ) 



THEANHINGA 



IS among the moft remarkable of birds by its form, which fuggefts the 

 idea of a reptile mounted on the body of a bird : its neck exceflively 

 long and thin ; its fmall cylindric head, fliarpened into a long pointed bill, 

 refembles the figure and alfo the motions of a ferpent, as well in the man- 

 ner of the bird's fuddenly thrufting forward his neck when quitting a tree, 

 as in his manner of ftriking at fifh, when in the water ; the head and 

 neck are covered vvith down, clofe fet, and foft as velvet j the eyes are bril- 

 liant black, the iris golden, a naked ficin furrounds them ; the point of 

 the bill is furnifhed with fmall jagged points turning backward j the body is 

 about feven inches long; the neck alone is double that length j the tail is 

 large, formed of twelve fpreading feathers, unhke moft water-birds ; yet 

 the anhinga fwims and dives, holding its head above water; but this it 

 withdraws on the lead appearance of danger; is very wild; never taken 

 on the fhore; is always on the water, or perched on the tops of the higheft 

 trees along the fides of rivers, or drowned favannas, where he neftles ; 

 is among the number of birds perfefl palmipeds, or having toes com- 

 pletely united by a membrane ; the nail of the middle toe dentelated in- 

 ternally like a faw. Its fkin is very thick j its flefh not eatable, but very 

 at ; its plumage mingled with grey ; its wings are long, the colours of 

 fomc reddifb. Found principally in America, but fome in Africa. 



THE PELICAN. 



TH E Pelican is among the largeft of water-birds ; much larger in the 

 body than a fwan, and Ibmewhat of the fame iliape. Its four toes are 

 all completely webbed together, are red or yellow ; and its neck in fome 

 meafure refembles that of a fwan: its fingularity is its bill, and the great 

 pouch underneath. This enormous bill is fifteen inches from the point to 

 the opening, which is behind the eyes ; at the bafe is fomewhat greenifh, 

 but varies towards the ijiiddle and end, being reddilh. It is flat at top, 

 very thick in the beginning, but tapers off to the end, where it hooks 

 "downwards. 1 iic under-ctiap is ftill more extraordinary; it confifts of 

 two flexible branches, which divide to accommodate the fize of the 

 pouch which hangs to it, renching the whole length of the bill to the 

 neck, and faid to be capable cf containing fifteen or twenty quarts of wa- 

 ter; 



