36 THE BROWN PELICAN. 



Gull at that instant alights on the bill of the Pelican, or on its head, and 

 seizes the fry at the moment they were perhaps congratulating themselves 

 on their escape. This every body on board the Marion observed as well as 

 myself, while that vessel was at anchor in the beautiful harbour of Key 

 West. To me such sights were always highly interesting, and I doubt if in 

 the course of my endeavours to amuse you, I ever felt greater pleasure than 

 I do at this moment, when, with my journal at my side, and the Gulls and 

 Pelicans in my mind's eye as distinctly as I could wish, I ponder on the 

 faculties which Nature has bestowed on animals which we merely consider 

 as possessed of instinct. How little do we yet know of the operations of 

 the Divine Power! On the occasions just mentioned, the Pelicans did not 

 manifest the least anger towards the Gulls. 



On the ground this species is by no means so active, for it walks heavily, 

 and when running, which it now and then does while in play, or during 

 courtship, it looks extremely awkward, as it then stretches out its neck, 

 partially extends its wings, and reels so that one might imagine it ready to 

 fall at each step. If approached when wounded and on the water, it swims 

 off with speed, and when overtaken, it suddenly turns about, opens its large 

 bill, snaps it violently several times in succession, causing it to emit a smart 

 noise in the manner of owls, strikes at you, and bites very severely. While 

 I was at Mr. Bulow's, his Negro hunter waded after one whose wing had 

 been broken. The Pelican could not be seized without danger, and I was 

 surprised to see the hunter draw his butcher's knife, strike the long blade 

 through the open pouch of the bird, hook it, as it were, by the lower man- 

 dible, and at one jerk swing it up into the air with extreme dexterity, after 

 which he broke its neck and dragged it ashore. 



The pouch measures from six to ten inches in depth, according to the age 

 of the bird after the first moult. The superb male whose portrait is before 

 you, and which was selected from among a great number, had it about the 

 last mentioned size, and capable of holding a gallon of water, were the man- 

 dibles kept horizontal. This membrane is dried and used for keeping snuff, 

 gunpowder and shot. When fresh it may be extended so as to become quite 

 thin and transparent, like a bladder. 



This Pelican seldom seizes fish that are longer than its bill, and the size of 

 those on which it ordinarily feeds is much smaller. Indeed, several which 

 I examined, had in the stomach upwards of a hundred fishes, which were 

 only from two to three inches in length. That organ is long, slender, and 

 rather fleshy. In some I found a great number of live blue-coloured worms, 

 measuring two and a half inches in length, and about the thickness of a Crow- 

 quill. The gut is about the size of a Swan's quill, and from ten to twelve 

 feet in length, according to the age of the individual. 



