190 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



yacht, but also because of the remarks of my 

 companions, which were scarcely complimentary, 

 either to me or to my " specimen." 



Round about the shipping were numbers of 

 fishes, and it was a most interesting sight to see the 

 pelicans feeding on them. All day these huge birds 

 remained perched on the buoys, but towards 

 evening they flew round the harbour in search of 

 food. They wouid fly in circles round a shoal of 

 small fishes, and every now and then one would 

 suddenly close its wings and plunge head foremost 

 into the water. As soon as it appeared on the 

 surface again, the pouch under the bill was seen to 

 be enormously extended with fish, which were 

 then swallowed in a somewhat leisurely manner. 

 Frequently, however, a black-backed gull* ap- 

 peared on the scene, and, settling on the pelican's 

 head, endeavoured bo extract the fish from its 

 mouth. We could not be certain if the gull ever 

 succeeded in stealing anything in this manner, 

 but from the frequent attacks of this kind made 

 by the gulls, there can be little doubt that they 

 often succeed in robbing the larger bird of its 

 prey. The pelicans, however, did not seem to 

 resent this treatment in the least. 



At length, after several unavoidable delays, 

 we left Valparaiso, and, falling in with a local 

 " trade wind," we got under sail, and proceeded 

 westwards, bound for the South Sea Islands. 



* Larus dominicanus. 



