BROWN PELICAN. 377 



dant the farther south we proceeded, and I procured specimens at diffe- 

 rent places, but nowhere so many as at Key West. There you would 

 see them flying within pistol-shot of the wharfs, the boys frequently try- 

 ing to knock them down with stones, although I believe they rarely suc- 

 ceed in their efforts. The Marion lay at anchor several days at a short 

 distance from this island, and close to another. Scarcely an hour of 

 daylight passed without our having Pelicans around us, all engaged at 

 their ordinary occupations, some fishing, some slumbering as it were on 

 the bosom of the ocean, or on the branches of the mangroves. This 

 place and all around for about forty miles, seemed to be favourite resorts 

 of these birds ; and as I had excellent opportunities of observino- their 

 habits, I consider myself qualified to present you with some account of 

 them. 



The flight of the Brown Pelican, though to appearance heavy, is re- 

 markably well sustained, that bird being able not only to remain many 

 hours at a time on wing, but also to mount to a great height in the air to 

 perform its beautiful evolutions. Their ordinary manner of proceedino-, 

 either when single or in flocks, is by easy flappings and sailings alternat- 

 ing at distances of from twenty to thirty yards, when they glide alono- 

 with great speed. They move in an undulated line, passing at one time 

 high, at another low, over the water or land, for they do not deviate from 

 their course on coming upon a key or a point of land. When the waves 

 run high, you may see them " troughing," as the sailors say, or directino- 

 their course along the hollows. While on wing they draw in their head 

 between their shoulders, stretch out their broad webbed feet to their whole 

 extent, and proceed in perfect silence. 



When the weather is calm, and a flood of light and heat is poured 

 down upon nature by the genial sun, they are often, especially during 

 the love season, seen rising in broad circles, flock after flock, until they 

 attain a height of perhaps a mile, when they gracefully glide on con- 

 stantly expanded wings, and course round each other, for an hour or 

 more at a time, after which, in curious zigzags, and with remarkable ve- 

 locity, they descend towards their beloved element, and settle on the 

 water, on large sand-bars or on mangroves. It is interesting beyond de- 

 scription to observe flocks of Brown Pelicans thus going through their 

 aerial evolutions. 



Now, Reader, look at those birds standing on their strong column-like 

 legs, on that burning sand-bar. How dexterously do they wield that 



