PALMIPEDES. 



373 



Pelecanus,* the Pelican. 



PELICAN (P. Onocrotalus). 



This is the principal genus of the family. It is 

 remarkable for its long, straight, flattened beak, 

 hooked at the tip, and for the membranous bag which 

 depends from the lower mandible, capable of being 

 dilated to an enormous extent. 



The common Pelican (P. Onocrotalus)^- is as large as 

 a Swan, white, tinged with flesh colour. It feeds on 

 fish, which, it is said, during incubation, to transport 



* IT'Xsxav, pelekan, its ancient Greek name. 



t "Ovaj, oos, an ass, and x0araXov, krotalon, a braying : from its voice. 



