THE PELICAN. 273 



Labat's history of this bird. 



it to the most tender and parental uses. But we 

 have the authority of the great Buffon for assert- 

 ing that the pelicaa is a very sluggish voracious 

 bird, and very ill fitted to take those flights, or 

 make. those cautious provisions for a distant time, 

 which the ancients were so partial of attributing 

 to them. Father Labat, who seems to have 

 studied their manners with great exactness, has 

 given a minute history of this bird, as found in 

 America. 



ie The pelican," says he, " has strong wings, 

 furnished with thick plumage of an ash-colour, 

 as are the rest of the feathers over the whole 

 body. Its eyes are very small, when compared 

 to the size of its head; there is a sadness in its 

 countenance, and its whole air is melancholy, 

 It is as dull and reluctant in its motions, as the 

 flamingo is sprightly arid active. It is slow of 

 flight; and when it rises to fly, performs it with 

 difficulty and labour. Nothing, as it would 

 seem, but the spur of necessity, could make 

 these birds change their situation, or induce 

 them to ascend into the air : but they must either 

 starve or fly. 



" They are idle and inactive to the last degree, 

 so that nothing can exceed their indolence but 

 their gluttony; it is only from stimulations of 

 hunger that they are excited to labour; for other- 

 wise they would continue always in fixed repose. 

 When they have raised themselves about thirty 

 or forty feet above the surface of the sea, they 



VOL. IV. NO. 28. 2 M 



