292 



DUCKS, GEESE, SWANS, AND PELICANS. 



that, in one day's fishing, it devours as much fish as would satisfy 

 six men. The Egyptians have nicknamed it the " River Camel," 

 because it can imbibe at once more than twenty pints of water. 

 Certainly it only makes two meals a day ; but, oh ! what meals 

 they are ! 



Pelicans often travel in considerable flocks, visiting the mouths 

 of rivers or favourite retreats on the sea- coast. When they 

 have made choice of a suitable place, they arrange themselves 

 in a wide circle, and begin to beat the water with extended wing, 



Fig. 105. — Tile Crested Pelican (P. onocrotalui^ v&r, Ort'enta/is, Linn.). 



so as to drive the fish before them, gradually diminishing the circle 

 as they approach the shore or some inlet on the coast. In this 

 manner they get all the fish together into a small space, when the 

 common feast begins. After gorging themselves they retire to 

 the shore, where the processes of digestion follow. Some rest 

 with the neck over the back ; others busily dress and smooth 

 their plumage, waiting patiently until returning appetite invites 

 all to fresh exertions. When thus quiescent, occasionally one of 

 these birds empties his well-lined pouch, and spreads in front of 

 him all the fish that it contains, in order to feed upon them at 

 leisure. 



