130 



THAT'S IT; 



twelve feet. In some places, 

 especially the lakes of Judea and 



4 



435. 



Egypt, pelicans are so numerous 

 that the surface of the water, 

 when viewed from the mountains, 

 appears one mass of white, owing 

 to vast flocks of them. 



They are seen issuing forth to the tracts 

 where fishes abound, every morning, when they 

 continue rising up into the air, and diving into 

 the water by turns, till they have filled the large 

 pouch situated under their chin. After they 

 have thus collected a sufficient store of provi- 

 sions, they retire to a neighbouring cliff, till 

 digestion is accomplished. There they remain, 

 slumbering in a profound apathy, till, aroused in 

 the evening by the calls of their voracious appe- 

 tite, they again resume their labours. 



The beak of the pelican forms the most con- 

 spicuous part in its structure; it is about 

 eighteen inches in length, thick at the base, but 

 tapering off towards the point, where it termi- 

 nates in a hook. The under part of the beak 

 consists of two flexible branches, to each of which 

 are attached the sides of a large bag, which ex- 

 tends from the point of the bill to the throat. 

 This bag, when empty, the bird has the power 

 of contracting into a small size, under the lower 

 chap ; when extended, however, it is capable of 

 containing about ten quarts of water, and will 

 admit a man's leg. This extraordinary pouch 

 consists of a skin, covered with a short down, 

 Rmooth and soft, like silk. The bag of the peli- 

 can may be considered as its crop, for it serves 



all the purposes of that intestine in other birds ; 

 in this case, however, it is placed at the top 

 instead of at the bottom of the gullet, and having 

 less warmth to aid digestion, the food is carried 

 to the young in a fresher and sounder state. 



In disgorging the food for her family, the 

 mother presses the bottom of the sack upon her 

 breast, and thus discharges its contents. The 

 torpid and indolent habits of these birds are 

 exceeded by their gluttony ; for it is only the 

 powerful stimulation of hunger which will in- 

 duce them to change their situation, or ascend 

 into the air. They must, however, fly or starve ; 

 and when once they stir abroad, they will each 

 devour, at a single meal, as many fishes as would 

 satisfy six men. They commit great devasta- 

 tion, both upon the. fresh water and the sea; 

 and will swallow a fish weighing eight pounds. 

 The indolent habits of the- pelican characterize 

 every part of its economy. When its evening 

 labours are at an end, it retires to a tree near the 

 shore, on which it perches all night, and often a 

 great part of the following day, in dismal solem- 

 nity, and apparently half asleep . The invincible 

 laziness of the female allows her to make no pre- 

 paration foje incubation, or for the protection of 

 her young, when they emerge into life. She 

 drops her eggs upon the bare ground, to the 

 number of five or six, without seeming to have 

 any regard for the place where they are laid. 

 Her attachment to localities and affection for 

 her young, inspire her with no courage in de- 

 fending her offspring; she tamely sits and 

 suffers her eggs to be taken from under her ; 

 and now and then only ventures to peck, or 

 cry out, when a person offers to beat her away. 

 The young, when excluded from the shell, are 

 fed with the fishes which have been for some 

 time macerated in the parent's bag. They are 

 easily tamed ; and whatever food is given them 

 they always first commit to the bag, and after- 

 wards swallow at their leisure. Great numbers 

 of pelicans are killed by the natives of America 

 for the sake of their bags, which are converted 

 into purses and tobacco pouches. When care- 

 fully prepared, this membrane becomes as soft 

 as silk, and is sometimes embroidered by the 

 Spanish ladies for work-bags. In Egypt the 

 sailors use it, while still attached to the two 

 under chaps, for holding water, or baling their 

 boats. 



The abou-hannes, or Father John, 

 5, is a bird which is supposed 

 to be identical with the sacred 

 Ibis of the ancients. It was re- 

 garded by the Egyptians with 

 great veneration, and was em- 

 balmed by them after death. 

 Their mummies are found in 

 great numbers in the catacombs 

 of ancient Memphis. These 

 birds are closely allied to the 

 storks. They frequent the bor- 

 ders of rivers and lakes, feeding 

 on insects, worms, moths, &c, 



