448 



NA TURAL IIISTOR Y. 



Of course the iisli began to obey the law of falling bodies, — and the bird, 

 folding its wings tightly upon its body, dropped swiftlj- after it. The part 

 bitten off being disposed of, another swoop downwards was made, the fish 

 seized, and the upward swing repeated; and this process continued until 

 the entire carcass was devoured. At the time of this visit these frigate- 



< J 



Fia. 370. — White pelican (Pelecamts onocrotalus). 



birds were oblivious of man's presence; and I was fortunate to secure this 

 one by a well-directed shot. It measured eleven feet in alar dimensions, 

 and weighed eighl pounds." 



In the Erigate-birds, as our cut shows, there is a well-developed pouch 

 beneath the throat; but this is far inferior to that of the next group to be 



