32 



THE BOOK OF BIRDS 



The long beak often measures over eighteen inches, 

 and although not so strong and formidable as it looks, 

 it is often used by the bird in self-defence. Mr. Bryden 

 once saw a Pelican that had been shot and was lying 

 badly wounded strike fiercely and strongly at a native 

 who ran up to despatch it. 



A notable thing about a Pelican's feet is that all the 

 toes are webbed. Most of the web-footed birds have only 

 the front toes webbed. 



This, of course, gives him a pair of splendidly broad 

 paddles with which to move over the water. If ever you 

 have the good luck to watch a Pelican coming down from 

 a high flight, you will see him open out these webs till 

 they seem to be of a most unbirdlike size and shape. 



There are several kinds of Pelican — ten or eleven, some 

 naturalists make out. First, there is the Common species, 

 sometimes called the Roseate or the White Pelican, because 

 of his snowy plumage which is tinted with a flush of rose 

 colour or salmon. The largest of the family is the Dal- 

 matian Pelican, who wears " a curious crest of loose curled 

 feathers." Then there is the Brown Pelican ; the 

 tailed Australian and the North American s 

 the Spotted-billed Pelican who builds in the f< 

 of Burmah. 



And where are the first two species to 

 They are the ones you are most likely to hear ab- 



The Roseate Pelican has his home in many 

 He is to be seen as far south as S.W. Africa, as 

 in the north-east of that vast and sun-steeped co: 

 and in some parts of south-eastern Europe. This 

 kind whose airy wheelings and circlings were spo 

 early in this chapter. 



The Dalmatian Pelican, usually known by his 



