368 HISTORY or 



tlii?y do. Father Labat, who seems to have studied their manncrj 

 with great exactness, has given us a minute history of this bird, 

 as found in America ; and from him I will borrow mine. 



The pelican, says Labat, has strong wings, furnished vvitJ.i 

 thick plumage of an ash-colour, as are the rest of the feather.s 

 over the whole body. Its eyes are very small when compared 

 to the size of its head ; there is a sadness in its countenance, 

 and its whole air is melancholy. It is as dull and reluctant in 

 its motions, as the flamingo is sprightly and active. It is slow 

 of flight; and when it rises to fly, performs it with difficulty and 

 labour. Nothing, as it would seem, but the spur of necessity 

 could make these birds change their situation, or induce them to 

 ascend into the air ; but they must either starve or fly. 



They are torpid and inactive to the last degree, so that no- 

 thing can exceed their indolence but their gluttony ; it is only 

 from the stimulations of hunger that they are excited to labour •, 

 for otherwise they would continue always in fixed repose. When 

 they have raised themselves about thirty or forty feet above the 

 surface of the sea, they turn their head with one eye downwards, 

 and continue to fly in that posture. As soon as they perceive a 

 fish sufficiently near the surface, they dart down upon it with the 

 swiftness of an arrow, seize it with unerring certainty, and store 

 it up in their pouch. They then rise again, though not without 

 great labour, and continue hovering and fishing, with their head 

 on one side as before. 



This work they continue with great effort and industry till 

 their bag is full, and then they fly to land to devour and digest 

 at leisure the fruits of their industry. This, however, it would 

 appear, they are not long in performing ; for towards night they 

 have another hungry call, and they again reluctantly go to labour. 

 At night, when their fishing is over, and the toil of the day 

 crowned with success, these lazy birds retire a little way from the 

 shore ; and, though with the webbed feet and clumsy figure of a 

 goose, they will be contented to perch no where but upon trees, 

 among the light and airy tenants of the forest. There they take 

 their repose for the night ; and often spend a great part of the 

 day, except such times as they are fishing, sitting in dismal so- 

 lemnity, and, as it would seem, half asleep. Their attitude is, 

 with the head resting upon thtir gi eat bag, and that resting upon 

 their breast. There thty remain without motion, or once chang 



