THE INDIAN OCEAN. 353 



the callow young, or to be eaten at leisure. The 

 poucli of a full-grown Pelican, when distended, will 

 contain ten quarts of water. They fly to a long 

 distance, and at a lofty elevation, and remain un- 

 tired on the wing for a protracted period. A flock 

 of Pelicans beating for prey is a splendid spectacle. 

 Sometimes the whole troop soars upwards to an im- 

 mense height, and then suddenly swoops down with 

 arrowy velocity, splashing the sea in every direc- 

 tion ; presently they emerge, and again soar on high 

 till again they simultanetvasly dash down upon the 

 shoals ; and thus the flock perform their evolutions 

 in concert, ranging over a wide bay, or a given space 

 of water, with perfect order and regularity, and with 

 astonishing rapidity. At other times they fly al- 

 most at the very surface, beating the water with 

 their wings, till the whole sea is one undistinguish- 

 able mass of foam. 



In the beautiful poem of Montgomery, " The Pelican 

 Island," which I have before quoted, the manners of 

 these interesting birds are ably described : — 



" Eager for .^Viocl, their .searching eyes they fix'd 

 On ocean's unroird ■volume, from a height 

 That brought immensity within their scope; 

 Yet with such power of vision look'd they down, 

 As though they watch'd the shell-fish slowly gliding 

 O'er sunken rocks, or climbing trees of coral. 

 On indefatigable wiug upheld. 



Breath, pulse, existence, eeem'd suspended in them : 

 They were aa pictures painted on the sky; 

 Till, suddenly, aslant, away tliey shot, 

 Like meteors changed from stars to gleams of lightning, 

 And struck upon the deep ; where, in wild play. 

 Their quarry flounder'd, unsuspecting harm; 



