THE PELICAN. 229 
ably exceeding the size of the swan, and frequently 
measuring from five to six feet between the extremity of 
the bill and that of the tail, and from ten to twelve 
between the tips of the expanded wings. Its bill is 
nearly a foot and a half in length, and from an inch and 
a half to two inches broad; and its pouch is capable of 
containing, when stretched to its utmost extent, two or 
three gallons of water. The quantity of fish which it 
sometimes accumulates in the same serviceable reposi- 
tory is spoken of as enormous. Notwithstanding their 
great bulk and apparent clumsiness, the large extent of 
their wings, and the extreme lightness of their bones, 
which are so thin as to be almost transparent, enable | 
these birds to rise to a lofty pitch in the air, to hover at a 
moderate elevation, or to skim rapidly along the surface 
of the water with as much facility as they dive into its 
depths in pursuit of their prey. They sometimes assem- 
_ ble in large numbers, and in this case are said by Buffon 
to act in concert, and to show no little skill in manceu- 
vring with the view of securing a plentiful quarry, forming 
themselves into a circular line, and gradually narrowing 
the extent of the space enclosed, until they have driven 
the fishes into so small a compass as to render them a 
certain prey; when at a given signal they all at once 
plunge into the water and seize upon their terrified 
victims, filling their pouches with the spoil, and flying 
to the land, there to devour it at their leisure. This 
fishery is carried on both at sea and in fresh water. 
They are found in nearly every part of the globe, but 
are of rare occurrence in the north of Europe. The 
beautiful pair figured at the head of this article are said 
to be from Hungary. The female is now sitting upon 
