THE PELICAN TRIBE IN GENERAL. 391 



FO nrorgre themselves as, notwithstanding their otherwise extraordinary 

 powers of flight, to be prevented by their weight and consequent 

 etupidity even from rising. 



In the West Indies the appearance of these birds is said to foretell 

 the arrival of ships ; this indeed is sometimes true, and arises from a 

 very natural cause. They always fish in fine weather ; so that when 

 the wind is boisterous out at sea, they retire into the harbors, where 

 they are protected by the land ; and the same wind that blows them 

 in, oftentimes brings also vessels to seek a retreat from the storm. 



Their voice very much resembles the braying of an Ass. In South 

 America they build their nests about the end of September ; these are 

 formed, of earth, on the ground, and are from one to three feet high. 

 The eggs are s as large as those of a goose, and have the singular 

 property of their white not becoming hard by boiling. When 

 attempted to be seized, these birds make a vigorous defence with their 

 bills. 



Many of the Indians set a high value on the feathers of these birds ; 

 which they use for arrows, as they last much longer than those of any 

 other birds. The natives of the South Sea Islands watch the arrival 

 of the Man-of-war Birds at the rainy season ; and, when they observe 

 them, they launch from their canoes into the water a light float of 

 wood, baited with a small fish. When one of the birds approaches it, 

 a man stands ready with a pole, about eighteen feet in length ; and 

 on its pouncing, he strikes at the bird, and seldom fails of bringing it 

 down. If, however, he miss his aim, he must wait for some other 

 bird, for that will no more be tempted to approach. The cock birds 

 are reckoned the most valuable ; and sometimes even a large hog is 

 given in exchange for one of these. 



The inhabitants of Kamtschatka make buoys to their nets, of the in- 

 testines of the Man-of-war Birds, which they blow up like bladders. 

 They also make tobacco-pipes and needle-cases of the bones of the 

 wings ; and use them likewise for heckling the grass, which serves them 

 instead of flax. The flesh is very hard and dry. 



THE PELICAN TRIBE IN GENERAL. 



IN this tribe the bill is long and straight; and the end either 

 hooked, or sloping. The nostrils are placed in a furrow that wins 

 along the sides of the bill, and, in most of the species, they are scarcely 

 perceptible. The face, except in two species, is destitute of feathers. 

 The gullet is naked, and capable of great extension. The number 

 of toes is four, and these are all webbed together. 



The Pelicans are" gregarious ; and, in general remarkable for their 

 extreme voracity. They are very expert in seizing fish with their 

 long and apparently unwieldy bills ; and many of the species are 

 rendered of use to mankind, by being trained to fishing. In general, 

 they keep out far at sea ; but some of them are found occasionally in 

 the interior parts of continents. 



