34:0 OREAT STRENGTH OF THE PELIGAJTS WING. 



pelican in the morning, after having stained it red, and that 

 it returned in the evening with its bag full of fish, which it 

 was made to disgorge. 



The sac or bag of the pelican is an elastic flesh-colored 

 membrane, which hangs from the lower edges of the under 

 mandible, reaching the whole length of the bill to the neck, 

 said to be capacious enough to hold about four gallons of 

 water. The bird has the power of contracting the bag by 

 wrinkling it up under the mandible, so that it is scarcely 

 visible; but after a successful fishing, it is incredible to 

 what extent it is frequently distended. It preys chiefly on 

 the larger fish, with which it fills its capacious pouch in or- 

 der to digest them at leisure. 



The great stretch of wing in the pelican, extending to 

 eleven or twelve feet, and consequently double that of the 

 swan or the eagle, enables it to support itself a long time in 

 the air, where it balances itself with great steadiness, and 

 only changes its place to dart directly downwards on its 

 prey, which rarely escapes ; for the violence of the dash, and 

 its Avide-spread wings, by striking and covering the surface 

 of the water, make it boil and whirl, and at the same time 

 stun the fish, and deprive it of the power of escape. When 

 the pelicans are in flocks they act in concert, and, forming a 

 great circle which they diminish by degrees, they thus en- 

 close the fish, and all, at a certain signal, strike the water at 

 the same moment, and amidst the disorder thus occasioned 

 they plump in and seize their prey. These birds spend in 

 fishing the hours of the morning and evening, when the finny 

 tribe are most in motion, and they choose the places where 

 they are most plentiful. 



The pelican belongs more to warm than cold climates. 

 It is very common in Africa and in some parts of Asia; it is 

 met with also in this country and in the southern parts of 

 Australia. It perches on trees, but does not nestle there, 



