370 HWTORY OF 



fitted among the native Americans, tbat it would go off in t!ie 

 morning at the word of command, and return before night to its 

 master, with its great pouch distended with plunder; a part of 

 which the savages would make it disgorge, and apart they would 

 } ermit it to reserve for itself. 



" The Pelican," as Faber relates, " is not destitute of othet 

 qualifications. One of these which was brought alive to the 

 duke of Bavaria's court, where it lived forty years, seemed to be 

 possessed of very uncommon sensations. It was much delighted 

 in the company and conversation of men, and in music both vo- 

 cal and instrumental : for it would willingly stand," says he, 

 " by those that sung, or sounded the trumpet; and stretching 

 out its head, and turning its ear to the music, listened very atten- 

 tively to its harmony; though its own voice was little pleasanter 

 than the braying of an ass." Gesner tells us, that the emperor 

 Maximilian had a tame pelican, which lived for above eighty 

 years, and that always attended his army on their march. It 

 was one of the largest of the kind, and had a daily allowance by 

 the emperor's orders. As another proof of the great age to 

 which the pelican lives, Aldrovandus makes mention of one of 

 these birds that was kept several years at Mechlin, was verily 

 believed to be fifty years old. — We often see these birds at our 

 shows about town. 



CHAP. III. 



of THE ALBATROSS, THE FIRST OF THE GULL KIND. 



Though this is one of the largest and most formidable birds 

 of Africa and America, yet we have but few accounts to en- 

 lighten us in its history. The figure of the bird is thus de- 

 scribed by Edwards ; " The body is rather larger than that of a 

 pelican ; and its wings, when extended, ten feet from tip to tip. 

 The bill, which is six inches long, is yellowish, and terminates 

 in a crooked point. The top of the head is of a bright brown; 

 the back is of a dirty deep spotted brown ; and the belly and 

 under the wings is white ; the toes, which are webbed, are of a 

 flesh colour.** 



