38 THE BROWN PELICAN. 



wings droop by their sides, and they would be utterly unable to walk. The 

 Vultures at this period often fall upon them and devour them in the absence 

 of their parents. The Indians also carry them off in considerable numbers; 

 and farther eastward, on the Halifax river, for instance, the Negroes kill all 

 they can find, to make gumbo soup of them during winter. The Crows, 

 less powerful, but quite as cunning, suck the eggs; and many a young one 

 which has accidentally fallen from the nest, is sure to be picked up by some 

 quadruped, or devoured by the Shark or Balacuda. When extensive depre- 

 dations have thus been made, the birds abandon their breeding places, and do 

 not return to them. The Pelicans in fact are, year after year, retiring from 

 the vicinity of man, and although they afford but very unsavoury food at 

 any period of their lives, will yet be hunted beyond the range of civiliza- 

 tion, just as our best of all game, the Wild Turkey, is now, until to meet 

 with them the student of nature will have to sail round Terra del Fuego, 

 while he may be obliged to travel to the Rocky Mountains before he find 

 the other bird. Should you approach a settlement of the Pelicans and fire 

 a few shots at them, they all abandon the place, and leave their eggs or 

 young entirely at your disposal. 



At all seasons, the Negroes of the plantations on the eastern coast of the 

 Floridas lie in wait for the Pelicans. There, observe that fellow, who, with 

 rusty musket, containing a tremendous charge of heavy shot, is concealed 

 among the palmettoes, on the brink of a kind of embankment formed by the 

 shelly sand. Now comes a flock of Pelicans, forcing their way against the 

 breeze, unaware of the danger into which they rush, for there, a few yards 

 apart, several Negroes crouch in readiness to fire; and let me tell you, good 

 shots they are. Now a blast forces the birds along the shore; off goes the 

 first gun, and down comes a Pelican; shot succeeds shot; and now the 

 Negroes run up to gather the spoil. They skin the birds like so many 

 racoons, cut off the head, wings and feet; and should you come this way 

 next year, you may find these remains bleached in the sun. Towards night, 

 the sable hunters carry off their booty, marching along in Indian file, and 

 filling the air with their extemporaneous songs. At home they perhaps salt, 

 or perhaps smoke them; but in whatever way the Pelicans are prepared, they 

 are esteemed good food by the sons of Africa. 



The Brown Pelican is a strong and tough bird, although not so weighty 

 as the white species. Its flesh is, in my opinion, always impure. It seems 

 never satisfied with food, and it mutes so profusely, that not a spot of ver- 

 dure can be seen on the originally glossy and deep-coloured mangroves on 

 which it nestles; and I must say that, much as I admire it in some respects, 

 I should be sorry to keep it near me as a pet. 



During winter, when the mullet, a favourite fish with the Brown Pelican, 



