166 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST, 
with its fellow birds in an undulating manner 
in long lines, rather widely separated. 
The night heron as well as the snowy heron 
closely resemble in their habits the rest of the 
species, the blue heron emulating that of Louis- 
jana, in the ease and grace of its motions. 
Frequenting the Floridas, abounding more 
towards the south, are the brown pelicans, the 
most interesting of their species. Hovering over 
the waters, diving for prey, or slumbering midst 
the mangrove's branches, these birds there exist 
in multitudes. Despite their weighty proportions, 
they possess great powers of flight, being able 
not only to remain many hours on wing, but to 
rise high in the air, where they perform the 
most beautiful evolutions. In genial weather, 
congegrating in groups, as though for social en- 
joyment, they rise, flock after flock, in broad 
circles, till they reach, perhaps, the height.of a 
mile, when with their wings constantly extended, 
they float gracefully, coursing each other, as if 
in an aerial labyrinth, for an hour or more at a 
time. Suddenly with wonderful velocity they 
dart downwards and settle on the waters, where 
they ride like a dusky fleet along the billows. 
Or sometimes alighting among their favourite 
mangroves, they spread their wings to the breeze. . 
When about to repose, they rest upon the sand, 
or remain standing, when they draw their head 
