170 On the Ornithology of Wilts \Velicanidce\ 



rank as remote relations of a lordly house. For the true Pelicans 

 are magnificent birds: and seen, (as I have many a time watched 

 them within the tropics of Upper Egypt and Nubia,) proudly 

 sailing on the broad Nile ; or swimming at their best pace down 

 the stream, while my Arab boatmen gave chace in our small boat ; 

 or rising in the air, and flapping with enormous wing overhead, 

 with the sun shining on their cream coloured plumage tinged with 

 pink, is a sight not readily forgotten. 



The principal characteristics of this family are to be observed in 

 the feet, which consist of four toes, all directed forwards and all 

 connected with a membrane ; in the beak, which is strong large 

 and terminating with a powerful hook ; in the legs, which are re- 

 markably short sturdy and strong ; and in the wings which are 

 moderately long and equal to very vigorous flight. There are two 

 genera belonging to this family in the British list, the Cormorants 

 and the Gannets, and I have instances of the appearance of both 

 of them in Wiltshire. 



" Common Cormorant." (Phalacrocorax carbo.) In many respects 

 this bird partakes of the general habits of the Divers and Auks: thus 

 on land it sits erect, and is awkward enough, although it can walk 

 with somewhat more ease than the Colymbidseor Alcadse : it swims 

 with the body deeply immersed ; and it dives with great readiness 

 and celerity : but unlike that family it can perch on trees, and grasp 

 the branches with its toes ; while its flight is strong and rapid. 

 It lives on fish, and to enable it to retain the slippery body of its 

 victim, the claw of the middle toe is serrated or indented with 

 comb-like teeth : the quantities of fish it consumes is enormous, and 

 it is not without reason that it has become the type of gluttony. 

 Moreover it is an ill-favoured slouching unclean bird, and seen 

 sitting on the rocks gorged with food, and staring with haggard 

 scowling eyes, and spreading out its wings to dry, coupled with its 

 foul odour, it always reminds me of that most unsavoury bird in 

 my eyes, the Egyptian Neophron, and accordingly is no favourite 

 with me. It kills its prey previous to swallowing it, by squeezing 

 it in its powerful and hooked beak. The colour of its plumage is 

 bluish-black, with metallic green reflections ; and it has patches of 



