PELICAN. 417 



or twenty perched in the evening on a tree, on the banks of the River 

 Esk, near Netherby, the seat of Sir James Graham. A person who 

 saw them settle, tired at random in the dark, six or seven times, 

 without success; surprised at this, he returned at daylight, and killing 

 one, the rest flew away. At the end of July, 1793, one of these 

 was found sitting on the vane of St. Martin's Church Steeple, on 

 Ludgate Hill, London, and was shot from thence in the presence of 

 a number of people. Some other instances might be mentioned, but 

 we trust that the above are enough to shew, that they are not easily 

 frightened from the places on which they perch. This is in general 

 a very wary bird, yet at times is unaccountably torpid or heedless ; 

 for, after a full surfeit of fish, or when asleep, it will, like the Peli- 

 can, suffer a net to be thrown over it, or a noose put round the neck, 

 so as to be easily taken. The chief food is found to be eels, flukes, 

 and, as the sea goby has also been found in the stomach, it may be 

 supposed that they prey on other kinds of fish likewise. It is no 

 uncommon thing to see twenty of these birds together on the sand 

 by the river side, with extended wings, drying themselves in the 

 wind, and to remain in this position for nearly an hour, without 

 closing them ; and as soon as the feathers are fit to imbibe the oil, 

 they press a portion thereof from the usual receptacle on the rump, 

 and dress the feathers with it ; for it is only in one particular state that 

 the oily matter can be spread thereon ; not dry, but while damp, and 

 the proper moment known to the bird by instinct. It is not an easy 

 matter to make the old bird rise from the water, especially if pursued, 

 and obliged to dive often, for then the feathers imbibe so much wet, 

 as to disable it totally ; and after long fishing is the occasion of the 

 bird coming on shore at intervals to dry and dress them. 



We learn that a species of this Genus, described hereafter, is 

 frequently made use of by the Chinese for fishing ; and it is also 

 said, that the custom was formerly practised in this kingdom, of 

 applying a leather thong about the neck, to prevent the bird swal- 

 lowing the fish, which it is taught to bring to its master; and the 



VOL. X. H H H 



