374 VERTEBRATA. AVES. 



to its young in its pouch. Its greedy voracity, and 

 awkward mode of running, or rather shuffling along, 

 assisted by the outspread wings, are well seen in the 

 very amusing way in which these birds are fed in the 

 Surrey Zoological Gardens. 



The Cormorants (Carbo*) differ little from the Pe- 

 licans, except in having these characters in a less de- 

 gree : their colours are brown and black. Some of 

 them are trained by eastern nations to catch fish for 

 man. 



In the Gannets (<SWaf) the throat is not dilatable ; 

 and their size does not exceed that of a Goose. They 

 are found on our own coast. 



The Frigate Pelican (P. Aquilus) is the most for- 

 midable of the aquatic birds. " Its keen sight, its 

 crooked beak, its short, robust, and plumy legs, its 

 sharp claws, the vast extent of its wings, and its 

 rapid flight, all shew that it is the oceanic represent- 

 ative of the king of birds. If the peaceful Flying- 

 fish seeks a refuge from its aquatic enemies by ele- 

 vating itself into the air, the Frigate-bird darts upon 

 it like a thunderbolt, and devours it. If the Booby 

 [or Gannet] has caught a fish, like the Bald Eagle 

 the Frigate-bird often compels it to let go its prey, 

 and seizes it before it reaches the water. "J Thus, 

 as in the Albatross already described, we see how 

 this, the lowest Order of Birds, connects itself with 

 the highest, affording a beautiful illustration of the 



* Carlo, a coal. f- 2v>.<, sule, prey. 



J Kirby, Bridge water Treat., on Hab. and Inst. of Animals, vol. ii. 

 p. 452. 



