533 PELICAN, 



at the point ; colour duflcy; from the bafe a reddifti dark-colour- 

 ed fkin fpreads on each fide of the head, taking in the eyes : from 

 the under mandible hangs a large membranaceous bag attached 

 fome way down the throat, as in the Pelican, and applied to the 

 fame ufes ; the colour of this a fine deep red, fprinkled on the 

 fides with a few fcattered feathers : the whole plumage is brown- 

 ilh black, except the wing coverts, which have a rufous tinge : 

 the tail is long, and much forked ; the outer feathers eighteen 

 inches or more in length ; the middle ones from feven to eight : 

 the legs are fmall, all the toes webbed together, and the webs 

 deeply indented ; the colour of them dufky red. 

 Female. The female differs in wanting the membranaceous pouch under 



the chin; and in having the belly white: in other things is 

 greatly like the male. 

 Place and The Frigate Pelican, or Man of War Bird*, as it is by fome 



called, is chiefly, if not wholly, met with between the tropics, and 

 ever out at fea, being only feen on the wing. It is ufual with other 

 birds, when fatigued with flying, to reft themfelves on the furface 

 of the water •, but nature, from the exceeding length of wing 

 ordained to this, has made the rifing therefrom utterly impof- 

 fible, at leaft writers not only fo inform us, but every one whom 

 we have talked with avers the fame ; though perhaps this is no 

 defect of nature, as it fcarcely feems to require much reft; at leaft, 

 from the length of wing, and its apparent eafy gliding mo- 

 tion (much like that of the Kite) it appears capable of fuftaining 



* It is alfo called Tailleur, or 'Taylor, by the French, from the motion of its 

 tail reprefenting a pair of Jhears when opened ; and when on the wing it opens 

 and ftiuts them frequently, in the manner of ufing that instrument.— Ullaa, 

 Fey. ii. p. 304. 



very 



Manners. 



