$H PELICAN. 



UIHiUS, 



Place anb ^j ie Brown Pelican is very common in many parts of the coafts 



9.1 AW TIT CDC J ' * 



of America-,' and no where more fo than in the Weft India IJlands, 

 Jamaica, Barbadoes, &c. Alfo in great plenty in the Bay of 

 Campeachy, and as low as Carthagena. In fummer found as far 

 north as Hudfon's Bay. When fifhing in the water is fufficiently 

 active ; but having filled the pouch, and retired to the rocks to 

 fill its belly, is, obferved to be to a degree ftupid and fenfelefs, 

 remaining without motion for hours together, with the bill refting 

 on the bread, half afleep -, when it is no uncommon thing for a 

 perfon to Heal upon one unawares, and feize it by the neck 

 without refiftance. 



Whether this, or any other of the brown Pelicans, be merely the 

 young of the white, is not for us to determine : many authors aver 

 it, while others are doubtful or filent on the fubjec~b. That the brown 

 ones are fmaller than the white is true ; and that likewife fome 

 are feen of mixed colours, feeming to prove the change from one 

 colour to the other; and Sonnerat even goes farther, by fuppofing 

 that the white ones become r of e- coloured, when arrived at old age. 

 But however this matter may turn out, nothing but a long feries 

 of obfervations, made during a number of years, will determine 

 the point, it being a long-lived bird : on this account we mall not 



dry fpecimen wanting alfo the flowers. — As to the vifcid and elaftic quality pof» 

 feffed by the above juice, we find it not peculiar to that alone, fince we learn 

 that the juices of feveral other trees* poffefs the fame, and whereby, ufed as 

 birdlime, the natives are enabled to entangle and fecure Peacocks and other 

 large birds. 



* Cecropia Peltata. — Ficus Indica & religiofa,— Lw,— — See Pbil. Tranf. vol. lxxi. p. 376. and 

 vol. ii. p, 671. of this work. 



2- hefitate 



