BILL OF THE PELICAN AND SKIMMER. 



295 



The naked elastic pouch (a), depending from the two bony 

 branches of the lower mandible of the pelican's bill, enables 

 the bird to dispose of the superfluous quantity which may be 

 taken during fishing-excursions, either for its own consumption 



Bill of ihe Pelican. 



Bill of the Skimmer. 



or for the nourishment of its young, while the nail or very 

 strong hook of the upper mandible is of great assistance in 

 securing its slippery prey. 



The bill of the black skimmer or cutwater is quite unique 

 in its kind ; the 

 under mandible, 

 which is in fact 

 nothing but a 

 wedge, being about 

 an inch longer 

 than the upper 

 one, by which it is clasped. With this curious apparatus the 

 bird, while on wing, skims the surface of the sea in search 

 of small fish, shrimps, or young fry, whose usual haunts are 

 near the shore and towards the surface, dipping only the sharp 

 under-mandible into the water, while the upper mandible is 

 raised above. A vast expansion of wing enables it to sail along 

 with sufficient speed, so that whoever (says Wilson) has observed 

 the facility with which the rynchops procures his food, cannot 

 but consider it a mere playful amusement, when compared 

 with the dashing immersions of the tern, the gull, or the fish- 

 hawk, which to the superficial observer appear so much better 

 equipped. 



