406 PELICAN. 



down like the Peruvian leather bottles,* and that it is usual for them 

 to bring food to a wounded or sick companion. The natives, there- 

 fore, take the advantage of confining one of them near the shore, by 

 which means they procure a dish of fish, without further trouble. 



The Brown Pelican is very common in many parts of the Coasts 

 of America, but no where more so than in the West India Islands, 

 Jamaica, Barbadoes, &c. ; also in the Bay of Campeachy, and as 

 low as Carthaeena. In summer found as far north as Hudson's 

 Bay. While fishing in the water it is sufficiently active, but having 

 filled the pouch, and retired to the rocks to swallow the contents, is 

 observed to be to a degree stupid and senseless, remaining without 

 motion for hours together, half asleep, with the bill resting on the 

 breast; when it is no uncommon thing for a person to steal upon the 

 bird unawares, and seize it by the neck without resistance. 



It is observed, that none of the true Pelicans are capable of 

 diving to any great depth ; probably owing to their great levity, 

 and consequently chiefly seize their prey by darting their necks 

 suddenly into the water ; on the contrary, those of the Corvorant 

 tribe are not only expert divers, but often make their way to great 

 distance under the water. 



10— CHARLES TOWN PELICAN. 



Pelecanus Carolinensis, hid. Orn. ii. 384. Cm. Lin. i. 571. 

 Charles Town Pelican, Gen. Syn. vi. 585. Arct, Zoo/, ii. No. 507. 



SIZE of a Canada Goose. Bill brown ; space round the eye 

 dusky ; colour of the plumage dusky above ; white on the breast 

 and belly; with a dusky yellow, dilatable pouch. 



* Now well known by the name of Caoutchouc, and applied to various uses, as a con- 

 taining vessel ; pieces of it are also used for destroying pencil marks, and called India Rub- 

 ber ; also being dissolved in a proper menstruum, serves as a coating to air balloons, or 

 other articles, required to be impenetrable to air and moisture. 



