674 



AVES— PELICAN. 



in Europe, particularly in Russia; but it seems to have deserted those 

 coasts. 



In the island of Manilla, the pelicans are of a rose color, and in America 

 they are brown. They are all torpid and inactive to the last degree, so that 

 nothing can exceed their indolence but their gluttony. It is only from the 

 stimulations of hunger that they are excited to labor ; 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 



'S pfc^-^ 



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 labor, 

 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 perform- 

 ing; for, towards night, they have another hungry call; and they again, 

 reluctantly, go to labor. 



Sometimes, they are said to assemble in large numbers, to act in concert, 

 and to manoeuvre with great skill, for the purpose of securing an abundant 

 prey. This they accomplish by forming a circular line, and gradually nar- 



