OR, PLAIN 



grown bird is about two feet and 

 a half, and the length of the bill 

 is between eight and nine inches ; 

 the plumage is white, with the 

 exception of a large collar of 

 reddish yellow, which extends 

 downwards in front, and forms a 

 breast-plate. The female is con- 

 siderably smaller than the male. 

 They are shy birds, and live in 

 company in wild wooded marshes, 

 about the borders of lakes and 

 rivers, but seldom visit the sea. 

 Their food consists of fishes, 

 molluscs, small reptiles, the 

 larvae of aquatic insects, &c. 

 They sometimes make their nests 

 in trees, but generally in bushes, 

 or amongst the luxuriant vege- 

 tation of the swamp. The use 

 of their broad mandibles is to 

 scoop up the mud, in which they 

 find aquatic worms and the spawn 

 of fishes, &c. 



The petrel, 3, is an ocean bird. 

 The stormy petrel, so well known 

 and universally dreaded by sailors 



434. 



as the harbingers of a storm, are 

 the least of all the web-footed 

 birds, being only about six inches 

 in length. The bill is half an 

 I inch long, hooked at the top ; 

 the nostrils are tubular. The 

 upper parts of the plumage are 

 black, sleek, and glossed with 

 bluish reflections ; thj3 brow, 

 6* 



TEACHING!-. 129 



cheeks, and under parts are sooty 

 brown : the legs are slender, 

 black, and scarcely an inch and 

 three quarters in length, from the 

 knee joint to the extremities of 

 the toes. In the length of its 

 wings and swiftness of flight it 

 resembles the chimney swallow. 

 It is met with on every part of 

 the ocean, diving or swimming 

 over the heavy rolling waves of 

 the most tempestuous sea, quite 

 at ease, and in security ; and yet 

 it seems to foresee and fear the 

 coming storm before the seaman 

 can discover any appearance of 

 its approach ; flocking together, 

 and making a clamorous piercing 

 cry, as if to warn the mariner of 

 his danger. They feed on small 

 marine animals, and seeds of sea- 

 weeds, and appear very fond of 

 fat and grease, to obtain which 

 they will follow in the wake of 

 ships for great distances. They 

 breed in the fissures of rocks, 

 and the female lays two eggs. 

 They fly rapidly, and generally 

 close to the water ; and when in 

 pursuit of food, they suspend 

 themselves by extending their 

 wings and appear to run on the 

 surface of the water. 



There are thirty-one species of 

 the pelican, 4, scattered over the 

 globe ; three or four of them 

 common to our own country. 

 The white pelican is by far the 

 largest bird of this genus ; but 

 notwithstanding its size, it sup- 

 ports itself easily upon the air, 

 and darts with great rapidity 

 upon its prey ; being furnished 

 with such enormous wings, that 

 when they are extended the 

 breadth of the bird is from ten to 



