THE BOOBY. 129 
I am not so well satisfied to include in the 
number, either the Cormorant, or the Sea- 
bird, which is sometimes called the Frigate 
Pelican. All the Pelicans have pouches, of 
greater or less dimensions, for carrying fish ; 
and the large size of the pouch of the Great 
Pelican may seem to imply that it is destined 
to make a wider circuit in pursuit of its prey, 
than those of which the pouches are smaller. 
‘* Fou,” or Fool, is a name given by the 
French sailors, and Booby, by the English, 
to several sea-birds, exclusive of the Booby 
Pelican, on account of their silly aspect, and 
habit of shaking their heads and shivering, 
when they alight on the yards or rigging of 
vessels, where they often suffer themselves to 
be taken with the hand. But the Booby 
Pelican is also remarked, not for silliness, by 
the deficiency of bodily strength, which 
obliges it to submit to the plunder of the bird 
that is variously called the Pirate, Frigate, 
and Man-of-war Bird. The habit of the Peli- 
cans to keep their prey for some time in their 
pouches, instead of immediately swallowing it, 
appears to expose them to its loss; for it is 
not man alone that has discovered the art of 
