380 BROWN PELICAN. 



times allows a few to escape ; but the Gull at that instant alights on the bill 

 of the Pelican, or on its head, and seizes the fry at the moment they were 

 perhaps congratulating themselves on their escape. This every body 

 on board the Marion observed as well as myself, while that vessel was 

 at anchor in the beautiful harbour of Key West, so that it is not again 

 necessary for me to lay before you a certificate with numerous signa- 

 tures. To me such sights were always highly interesting, and I doubt 

 if in the course of my endeavours to amuse you, I ever felt greater plea- 

 sure than I do at this moment, when, with my journal at my side, and 

 the Gulls and Pelicans in my mind's eye as distinctly as I could wish, I 

 ponder on the faculties which Nature has bestowed on animals which we 

 merely consider as possessed of instinct. How little do we yet know of 

 the operations of the Divine Power ! On the occasions just mentioned, 

 the Pelicans did not manifest the least anger towards the Gulls. It is 

 said that the Frigate Pelican or Man-of-war Bird, forces the Brown Pe- 

 lican to disgorge its food, but of this I never saw an instance ; nor do I 

 believe it to be the case, considering the great strength and powerful bill 

 of the Pelican compared with those of the other bird. Indeed, if I bad 

 been told that when the Frigate Bird assails the Pelican, the latter opens 

 its large pouch and swallows it entire, I might as soon have believed the 

 one story as the other. But of this more anon, when we come to the 

 habits of the bird in question. 



On the ground this species is by no means so active, for it Avalks 

 heavily, and when running, which it now and then does while in play, or 

 during courtship, it looks extremely awkward, as it then stretches out its 

 neck, partially extends its wings, and reels so that one might imagine it 

 ready to fall at each step. If approached when wounded and on the 

 water, it swims off with speed, and when overtaken, it suddenly turns 

 about, opens its large bill, snaps it violently several times in succession, 

 causing it to emit a smart noise in the manner of owls, strikes at you, and 

 bites very severely. While I was at Mr Bullow's, his Negro hunter waded 

 after one whose wing had been broken. The Pelican could not be seized 

 without danger, and I was surprised to see the hunter draw his butcher's 

 knife, strike the long blade through the open pouch of the bird, hook it, 

 as it were, by the lower mandible, and at one jerk saving it up into the air 

 with extreme dexterity, after which he broke its neck and dragged it a- 

 shore. 



The pouch measures from six to ten inches in depth, according to the 



