PELICAN. 589 



very long flights ; for it is often feen above an hundred *, and 

 not unfrequently above two hundred f leagues from land. It has 

 indeed been known to fettle on the mails of fhips; but this is 

 not a frequent circumflance, though it will often approach near, 

 and hover about the top-maft flag J. Sometimes it foars fo high 

 in the air as to be fcarcely vifible, yet at other times approaches 

 the furface of the fea, where, hovering at fome diftance, the mo- 

 ment it fpies afijh, it darts down on it with the utmofl rapidity, 

 and feldom without fuccefs, flying upwards again as quick as it 

 defcended j|. It is alfo feen to attack Gulls and other birds which 

 have caught a fijh, when it obliges them to difgorge it, and they 

 take care to feize it before it falls into the water. Is an enemy 

 to the Flying Fijh ; for, on their being attacked beneath by the 

 Dolphin, and other voracious fijh, to efcape their jaws thefe femi- 

 volatiles leap out of the water in clutters, making life of their long 

 fins as wings to buoy them up in the air, which they are enabled 

 to do fo long as they remain wet; but the moment they become 

 dry are ufelefs, and drop into their proper element again : during 

 their flight the Frigate darts in among thefhoal, and feizespne or 

 two at leaft. Thefe birds know the exact place where the fijh 

 are to rife, from the bubbling of the water, which directs them 

 to the fpot § ; in this they are accompanied by Gulls and other 

 birds, who act in concert with them. 



Thefe birds, though not uncommon every where within the 



* For/}. Fay. i. p. 47. — Id. Ob/, p. 211. 



f Hijl. Barbad. p. 86. — As far as four hundred. Pernetty. 



X Cook's laji Voy. i. p. 81. 



|| Dampier. — He obferves, that they do not take their prey in the bill. 



§ Hifi. Barbad. p. 86. 



tropics, 



