222 TEXT-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY 



the structure of its beak and feet (perfectly webbed) place it among the 

 swimming-birds. It is found often in large flocks on the coasts of the 

 Mediterranean. Standing in shallow water, the bird shovels up the 

 mud with its feet, and then pokes about in it after the manner of a duck, 

 seizing in its beak, which is curved downwards from the middle, and 

 lamellate, such crabs, snails, or worms as it may have disturbed from 

 their concealment. At the same time the bird bends its neck in such a 

 manner that the spoon-shaped upper beak, with which it scoops up its 

 prey out of the water, comes to lie downwards. In shallow waters it 

 builds a nest out of mud and vegetable remains. This nest is conical 

 and raised above the surface of the water, and the bird sits on it in the 

 manner of all long-legged species, with its legs doubled up under its 

 body. The plumage is of rosy colour, with the exception of the flight- 

 feathers, which are black. 



ORDER XII. : PELICAN-LIKE BIRDS (STEGANOPODES). 



Beak usually long; the halves of the lower mandible united by a 

 naked skin. The hind-toe (hallux) directed inwardly. All the toes 

 united by webs (swimming- feet). Aquatic birds. Young helpless. 



The Common Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotahis). 



(Length up to 6 feet.) 



The range of the pelican extends from Southern Hungary over a 

 large part of Africa and Southern Asia. It is natatorial in its habits 

 (see duck), and in shape somewhat like a goose, from which, however, 

 apart from the structure of its feet (see above), it is essentially distin- 

 guished by its long and peculiar bill. Between the two flexible halves of 

 the lower mandible is stretched a very extensile membrane or " gular " 

 pouch, so that the structure is not unlike a fisherman's landing-net. A 

 fish having been scooped out of the water by means of this natural net, 

 the upper beak covers it like a lid. The mandible is now pressed firmly 

 against the hooked prolongation of the upper beak, whereby its branches 

 are deflected to some extent. Through the gaps thus formed the water 

 flows out of the net, while the fish is forced down into the wide throat. 

 The pelican is unable to dive, and is therefore restricted to fish exclu- 

 sively in shallow waters. (Why ?) The birds always fish in companies, 

 a number of them forming a circle and then gradually approaching 

 towards the centre, or they arrange themselves in a semicircle and drive 

 their prey towards the shore. The pelican is the symbol of self-sacri- 



