PELICANS. 



PROBABLE ORIGIN OF THE OLD STORY OF THE PELICAN 

 IN THE WILDERNESS FEEDING ITS YOUNG ON ITS 

 OWN BLOOD. 



Having devoted much attention to investigations upon 

 the subject of the supply of food provided by several 

 species of birds for their young, I have collected many- 

 interesting facts showing that, in some instances, the 

 parents prepare by partial digestion, and, in others, by the 

 addition of a secreted nutritive substance, the food intended 

 for the support of their offspring. The incident which 

 I ani about to relate I was certainly not prepared to 

 expect, nevertheless, such facts as I now state have caused 

 me little astonishment, as they appear to me to afford a 

 solution to the well-known and ancient story of the Pelican 

 in the Wilderness. I have heard that the so-called fable 

 originated, or is to be found, on some of the early Egyptian 

 monuments (I do not know where), but that the representa- 

 tions are more like flamingoes than pelicans. A pair of 

 flamingoes in the Gardens frequently showed signs of 

 breeding, and were supplied with heaps of sand to form 

 their nests, but without result ; nevertheless they appeared 

 to take considerable notice of a pair of cariamas in the 

 same aviary. These latter birds had a habit of bending 

 back their heads, and, with open gaping mouths, uttered 

 loud and somewhat distressing sounds. This habit at once 

 attracted the flamingoes, and very frequently one of them 

 advances towards the cariamas, and, standing erect over 

 the bird, by a slight up-and-down movement of the head, 



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