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 
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they perceive a fish sufficiently near the surface, they dart down u,’on 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 hevering and fishing, with their head on one side, as before. 
This work they continue, with great effort and indusiry, 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- 
mg}; 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 maneuvre with great skill, for the purpose of securing an abundant 
prey. This they accomplish by forming a circular line, and gradualiy nar- 
