860 BIRDS OP INDIA. 



ing in the country. I have visited one Pelicanry in the Carnatic, 

 where the Pelicans have (for ages I was told) built their rude 

 nests, on rather low trees in the midst of a village, and seemed 

 to care little for the close and constant proximity of human beings. 

 I have also heard of many other breeding places in different parts 

 of the country. This species occasionally congregates in large 

 flocks, but not perhaps in such numbers as some of the white Peli- 

 cans do. 



This Pelican is used by the fishermen of some parts of Eastern 

 Bengal as a decoy to assist in catching certain kinds of fish, which 

 are attracted, it is said, by the oily secretion exuding from their 

 skins. They are tied to the boats sometimes with their eyes 

 sewn up. The species of fish that are most attracted in this way 

 are the different kinds of Colisa and Anabas. It is asserted that 

 the white Pelican has not this oily secretion. 



Other species of Pelicans are P. crispus, of Eastern Europe, 

 larger, it is said, than onocrotalus, of a silvery white, the feathers of 

 the occiput lengthened, crisp and turning forwards, and with the 

 frontal plumes emarginate : and P. conspicillatus, from Australia. 

 Three American species are recognised, P. fuscus, L. ; and P. 

 thagus, Molina, separated as Onocrotalus, Wagler ; and P. trachy- 

 rhynchus, Latham, the type of Cyslopelicanus, Reichenb. 



5th. — Diving Fishers. 



Fam. Graculid^e, Cormorants. 



Syn. Phalacrocoracidce, Bonap. 



Bill moderately long, cylindric, hooked at the tip, grooved ; wing 

 moderate; tail feathers stiff; upper tail-coverts exceedingly short ; 

 lower tail-coverts also short. 



These are moderately large birds, of more or less black 

 plumage, which fly, swim, and dive well ; they frequent both 

 inland lakes, and rivers and seas. They have the power of inflat- 

 ing the gullet to enable them to swallow considerable sized fish. 

 They are found all over the world, nidificating on trees, and laying 

 three or four pale bluish-green eggs. The young are clothed in 

 black down. The stomach is capacious, the intestines moderately 

 long, and there are two small caeca. 



